Ireland's first fully independent power station started commercial operations today in Huntstown, Co Dublin.
The gas-fired power plant is owned by Huntstown Power, a subsidiary of Northern Ireland-based energy supplier Viridian. It can deliver 343 megawatts of power into the national grid, accounting for up to 10 per cent of the State's annual electricity requirement.
The power station was formally taken over by Huntstown Power's chief executive, Mr David de Casseres, 14 days ahead of programme.
Building on site began in December 2000, with Siemens as the lead contractor on the €255 million project.
The opening of the Irish energy market developed as a result of the widening EU market liberalisation combined with rapid economic growth and the severe shortage of generation capacity in Ireland.