Latest news with #PaddyHayes
Irish Examiner
8 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Ireland ends coal power generation at Moneypoint
Ireland has ended coal power generation, joining a growing group of European countries that have eliminated the fuel from their electricity mix. The closure of Moneypoint's coal operations makes Ireland Europe's sixth country to exit coal as renewables continue to increase their share of power generation. The station in Co Clare will continue to operate, serving as a back-up role, burning oil under emergency instruction from EirGrid until 2029. Moneypoint is one of Ireland's largest energy generation stations and was developed in the 1980s to mitigate against the then oil crisis. Cathal Marley, Chief Executive of EirGrid, said the change marks a significant milestone for the country's electricity system. "While Moneypoint will no longer use coal, we entered an agreement with ESB, following direction from our regulator, CRU, to make Moneypoint units available on a temporary basis as out of market units up to 31st March 2029. "The units will operate using oil as the primary fuel source and will support the overall adequacy position for Ireland, alongside the other measures in CRU's Security of Supply Programme.' Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB said the teams working at Moneypoint and the communities across West Clare have been at the heart of powering Ireland's electricity system for the best part of 40 years. Friends of the Earth Ireland also welcomed the move, saying the cessation of coal operations at Moneypoint fires the starting gun on what could be a defining summer for Europe's coal phase-out, with Spain and Italy set to follow suit in the coming months, with the anticipated shutdown of their remaining mainland coal plants. Read More Proposal excuses new data centres from using renewable sources as back-up electricity
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Moneypoint ends coal generation early as ESB shifts focus to renewable energy hub
Coal generation has ended earlier than expected at Moneypoint Power Station in Co Clare. After 40 years, the ESB, which operates the station, announced it has transformed the site into a renewable energy hub as coal generation came to a close. Moneypoint began its transition away from fossil fuels in 2017 with the construction of a 17MW onshore wind farm. In 2021, ESB announced a multi-billion-euro plan to transform the site into one of the country's largest renewable energy hubs, utilising its deep-water port and existing infrastructure. Phase one of this plan was completed in 2022 with a €50 million investment in Ireland's first synchronous compensator — a zero-carbon technology that allows the system to handle increasing amounts of renewable electricity. CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB In 2023, ESB and EirGrid signed an agreement to keep Moneypoint available (to generate electricity using oil) from 2025 to 2029. The station will only be required to operate when the electricity system is short on capacity, and only under instruction from EirGrid. Oil generation is less carbon-intensive than coal, and the station is expected to run significantly less often during these four years. On Friday, Minister of State at the department of agriculture, Timmy Dooley, visited the site alongside ESB Chief Executive Paddy Hayes. Speaking about the move, Mr Dooley said: "The early end of coal generation at Moneypoint represents a significant milestone for ESB and is another important step in Ireland's energy transformation. "It is the people of the Mid-West that have made this possible and I am delighted that the site will continue to play a critical role in securing Ireland's electricity supply for a number of years to come." Mr Hayes said: "Moneypoint, the teams working here, and the communities across West Clare have been at the heart of powering Ireland's electricity system for the best part of 40 years so far – and I would like to thank all those who have played a part in that." Ireland's 2030 target under the EU's Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42% by the end of the decade. Climate Minister Darragh O'Brien said: "Today, the next step of the station's journey is beginning as the shift from coal to oil takes place. This is not just a significant move for ESB but also for the country as a whole as Ireland powers forward to deliver the clean energy transition underpinned by a secure electricity system.
