Latest news with #ShannonLNG
RTÉ News
12-05-2025
- General
- RTÉ News
Judicial review sought on proposed LNG plant in Kerry
Friends of the Irish Environment say they have been given leave to seek a Judicial Review of a proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) power plant in Co Kerry. The environmental organisation contends there are "critical failures" in the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the developer, Shannon LNG. An Bord Pleanála gave permission for the 600 megawatt capacity power plant and an associated battery energy storage system in March. The proposed development would be constructed on a 630 acre site near Tarbert in Co. Kerry. The planning board said the facility was in line with climate legislation. However, FIE says an environmental assessment significantly underestimated greenhouse gas emissions because "key calculation parameters" were not clearly identified. It says emissions could be three times worse than those from a coal-fired power station and would be in breach of the State's climate mitigation targets. The matter will be back before the courts later this month.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Shannon LNG power plant project stalled by legal challenge
Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) asked the High Court to allow a judicial review of An Bord Pleanála's decision to grant permission for the project The environmental group argues that the greenhouse gas emissions that would result from the gas-powered electricity generation plant have been undercounted. It says if the plant goes ahead, the electricity sector will breach the emissions threshold legally set for it. It also says An Bord Pleanála, by granting planning permission, failed in its responsibilities under Section 15 of the Climate Act which requires that public bodies act in accordance with the Climate Action Plan. Judge Richard Humphreys granted the group's request for leave for a judicial review and listed the case for a fortnight's time. Shannon LNG has been trying to build a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and regassification plant on the Co Kerry coast for almost 20 years and is involved in a protracted planning and legal battle over the project. However, last March it received permission for a separate but related electricity generation plant on the same site. The plant, which would be one of the country's biggest, would burn high-emissions conventional fossil fuel gas to generate electricity. It would also have the option of burning even more emission-intensive LNG if the import terminal and regassification plant receive permission. Opponents argue that approving the power plant will make it harder to refuse the LNG facilities and create a 'lock-in' effect, embedding LNG in the country's energy supply for the long term. ADVERTISEMENT Shannon LNG argues the power plant is necessary because of the growing demand for electricity in the country. It argues shipping LNG into Ireland is necessary because most of the country's supply of conventional fossil gas comes from an undersea pipe from the UK which could be vulnerable to disruption. The Government supports that view and earlier this year lifted a ban on LNG importation. In papers lodged to the court, FIE said there were critical failures in the environmental impact statement submitted by Shannon LNG in its planning application. Paul Price, adjunct professor at Dublin City University, said the method the company used to calculate the likely greenhouse gas emissions was incorrect and the emissions were 'significantly underestimated'. The group argues that new power plants that would generate more than 3 gigawatts (GW) of electricity were already awaiting construction – more than the 2GW the Government said was needed to meet electricity demand to the end of the decade. "Even on the developer's emissions calculations (which significantly underestimate greenhouse gas emissions) this single power station would on its own account for one-third own of all budgeted emissions from the entire electricity sector in 2030,' it argues. 'Nowhere does the Inspector [of An Bord Pleanála] explain how this could possibly be compliant with the relevant carbon budgets and sectorial emissions ceilings.' The matter back in court on May 26th.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Environmental group brings court challenge against Shannon LNG permission
An environmental group has brought a High Court action seeking to quash An Bord Pleanála's (ABP) decision to grant planning permission for a major power plant in north Co Kerry. The planning authority in March granted permission to Shannon LNG for the proposed development of a 600-megawatt power plant and energy storage facility on a 255-hectare (630-acre) site between Tarbert and Ballylongford on the Shannon estuary. Advertisement On Monday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys gave permission to John Kenny BL, appearing for Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, to bring judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanala, Ireland, the Attorney General and the Minister for Housing. Shannon LNG is a notice party in the action. Last September, following proceedings brought by Shannon LNG, Mr Justice Humphreys overturned the board's refusal of planning permission for a power plant, battery energy storage system and a regasification unit at the Shannon estuary site. In its court documents, FIE claims ABP breached Irish and European law in granting permission for the proposed power plant and energy storage facility. FIE claims An Bord Pleanala failed to adequately consider statutory carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings set out in the Government's Climate Action Plan 2024 in its decision, and its related obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. Advertisement FIE says that the board did not engage how the proposed development was consistent with carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings, other than to justify the granted permission because of Government policy support for constructing gas fired power stations deemed necessary for achieving the target of a 50 per reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. FIE says the calculated greenhouse gas emissions arising from the proposed development is 'manifestly incorrect and significantly underestimated' in an environmental impact assessment report submitted to the board by the developer. Based on these 'underestimated' calculations, the proposed development will account for one third of all budgeted emissions – based on limits set out in 2024 Climate Action Plan – from the entire electricity sector in 2030, FIE claim. Ireland Four local authorities spending over €500k per yea... Read More FIE also says the board was wrong to find that the proposed development constitutes a sustainable development, and its decision to grant permission is invalid as it constitutes a material contravention of the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 and Listowel Municipal District Local Area Plan 2020-2026. Advertisement FIE says An Bord Pleanala breached obligations under the European Union's environmental impact assessment directive. The environmental group claims the board could not and did not make a valid decision on the impact of proposed development under the EU's Habitats Directive. The case returns to court in two weeks.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Friends of Irish Environment bring High Court challenge against Shannon LNG permission
An environmental group has brought a High Court action seeking to quash An Bord Pleanála 's (ABP) decision to grant planning permission for a liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) terminal in north Co Kerry . The planning authority in March granted permission to Shannon LNG for the proposed development of a 600-megawatt power plant on a 255-hectare (630-acre) site between Tarbert and Ballylongford on the Shannon estuary. On Monday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys gave permission to John Kenny, appearing for Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, to bring judicial review proceedings against ABP, Ireland, the Attorney General and the Minister for Housing. Shannon LNG is a notice party in the action. Last September, following proceedings brought by Shannon LNG, Mr Justice Humphreys overturned the board's refusal of planning permission for the proposed power station. In its reviewed decision, the board said it was satisfied that the plant was consistent with national climate ambitions. READ MORE [ Why are environment activists so divided on the issue of liquefied natural gas? Opens in new window ] In its court documents, FIE claims ABP breached Irish and European law in granting permission for the proposed development. FIE claims ABP failed to adequately consider statutory carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings set out in the Government's Climate Action Plan 2024 in its decision, and its related obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. FIE says the board did not engage on how the proposed development was consistent with carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings, other than to justify the granted permission because of Government policy support for constructing gas-fired power stations deemed necessary for achieving the target of a 50 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. FIE says the calculated greenhouse gas emissions arising from the proposed development is 'manifestly incorrect and significantly underestimated' in an environmental impact assessment report submitted to the board by the developer. Based on these 'underestimated' calculations, the proposed development will account for one third of all budgeted emissions – based on limits set out in 2024 Climate Action Plan – from the entire electricity sector in 2030, FIE claims. FIE also says the board was wrong to find the proposed development constitutes a sustainable development, and its decision to grant permission is invalid as it constitutes a material contravention of the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 and Listowel Municipal District Local Area Plan 2020-2026. FIE says ABP breached obligations under the European Union's environmental impact assessment directive. The environmental group claims the board could not and did not make a valid decision on the impact of proposed development under the EU's Habitats Directive. The case returns to court in two weeks.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Environmental group challenges permission for Shannon LNG terminal in Kerry
An environmental group has brought a High Court action seeking to quash An Bord Pleanála's (ABP) decision to grant planning permission for a liquefied natural gas terminal in north Co Kerry. The planning authority in March granted permission to Shannon LNG for the proposed development of a 600MW power plant on a 630-acre site between Tarbert and Ballylongford on the Shannon Estuary. On Monday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys gave permission to John Kenny BL, appearing for Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) and instructed by FP Logue solicitors, to bring judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanála, Ireland, the Attorney General and the Minister for Housing. Shannon LNG is a notice party in the action. Last September, following proceedings brought by Shannon LNG, Mr Justice Humphreys overturned the board's refusal of planning permission for the proposed power station. In its reviewed decision, the board said it was satisfied that the plant was consistent with national climate ambitions. In its court documents, FIE claims that ABP breached Irish and European law in granting permission for the proposed development. FIE claims An Bord Pleanála failed to adequately consider statutory carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings set out in the Government's Climate Action Plan 2024 in its decision, and its related obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015. FIE says that the board did not gauge how the proposed development was consistent with carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings, other than to justify the granted permission because of Government policy support for constructing gas-fired power stations deemed necessary for achieving the target of a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. FIE says the calculated greenhouse gas emissions arising from the proposed development is 'manifestly incorrect and significantly underestimated' in an environmental impact assessment report submitted to the board by the developer. Based on these 'underestimated' calculations, the proposed development will account for one third of all budgeted emissions – based on limits set out in the 2024 Climate Action Plan – from the entire electricity sector in 2030, FIE claims. FIE also says the board was wrong to find that the proposed development constitutes a sustainable development, and its decision to grant permission is invalid as it constitutes a material contravention of the Kerry County Development Plan 2022-2028 and Listowel Municipal District Local Area Plan 2020-2026. FIE says An Bord Pleanála breached obligations under the European Union's environmental impact assessment directive. The environmental group claims the board could not and did not make a valid decision on the impact of the proposed development under the EU's Habitats Directive. The case returns to court in two weeks. Read More An Bord Pleanála withdraws appeal leave application in Shannon LNG case
