Tag Archives: Moneypoint

A MASTERPLAN is needed to prepare for the ambitious Green energy hub to be developed by the ESB at Moneypoint, according to a member of the Council’s Economic Development committee. Addressing the January meeting of the local authority, Councillor Johnny Flynn called for advance plans to facilitate the ESB’s multibillion euro Green Atlantic hub, and to address what he described as the “huge impacts” on the county’s road networks, its service and population growth.   “As a member of the economic SPC. I think that as a county, we need to do a master plan on how to deal with the impact on our services of what the ESB are proposing at Moneypoint and also offshore,” he said. “There’s going to be huge impacts on our road network. There’s going to be significant impacts on our services delivery, whether it’s water, sewerage, and population growth.” The Fine Gael member said a recent presentation by the ESB to the SPC had …

THERE’S no need to worry that the transition to wind energy is happening too slowly in west Clare, according to Minister Eamon Ryan. The Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications was at Moneypoint to officially open its new €50 million synchronous compensator, which will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system, and provide greater grid stability. The Moneypoint synchronous compensator is one of the largest in the world, and he said it is at the forefront of a huge shift in how energy is produced. “This is historic and it’s in line with that Ardnacrusha tradition,” said Minister Ryan. “Then they built the leading example of hydro in the world and this is at the forefront of a new green revolution in energy. “When you have a lot of renewables on the system, a lot of wind, this supports it to make sure the system stays stable. This is the biggest one of these in the world, it’s the …

INTERESTED parties have been given the opportunity to engage in a virtual public consultation on the proposed Moneypoint Offshore Wind project. An online ‘consultation room’ was launched this Tuesday and will be open for a period of six weeks, closing on Monday, October 17. It will provide up-to-date information on the project as well as offer an opportunity for people to provide feedback and register to keep informed as the project progresses. A number of documents about the project are currently provided in the online consultation room, outlining the significance of the enterprise. Explaining its scale, one of the documents states that the project comprises two phases, namely Moneypoint One Offshore Wind, a floating wind project located approximately 16km offshore of southern Co Clare and approximately 22km west-northwest of Kerry Head in Co Kerry, and Moneypoint Two Offshore Wind, a floating wind project located further out to sea, at approximately 40km from the Co Clare and Kerry coastlines. The project …

WEST Clare councillors are to write to the ESB to condemn the sourcing of coal from Russia for the Moneypoint power plant. It comes against the backdrop of sanctions taken by western nations against Russia over its attack on Ukraine. This coincides with the revelation that Russian coal accounted for almost all of the fuel consumed in Moneypoint in 2021. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the ESB outlined prior to 2021, electricity generation from Moneypoint had reduced significantly, requiring only small quantities of coal in those years. However, in 2021, a combination of factors saw an increase in electricity generation from Moneypoint to meet demand on the Irish electricity system, resulting in more than one million tons of coal being burned over that year. The ESB has seen that trend continue into the early part of 2022. “ESB sources coal for Moneypoint on international markets. Russian coal accounted for almost all of the coal consumed in Moneypoint in 2021,” the …

From Cross village to Texas for gruelling US Navy training; from running festivals to nearly drowning in debt; from earthquakes in Manila to almost dying in Mondello, Danny Boland has experienced many highs and lows which he shares with Dan Danaher. WHEN he was working on major construction projects all over the world, Danny Boland always gave thanks for the training he received in Ardnacrusha Power Station. “It was the greatest training anyone could ever have,” says Danny, “It was unbelievable. I would not have been able to work on any of these projects without the ESB. The training and skills I learned in Ardnacrusha made all these jobs so easy. “If I ever ran into a problem on a job, I can pick up the phone and get advice from one of the ESB fitters or electricians I worked with.” “We were trained to weld, operate lathes, maintenance work, construction work, piping. I learned about five different trades in …

Formal plan for offshore wind facility won’t be before board for two years while tanaiste says coal-burning plant won’t be decommissioned until country is is confident it can replaced with secure renewable supply THE ESB has put its plan before An Bord Pleanala for a production facility for off-shore wind-turbines at its Moneypoint power station in west Clare, writes Gordon Deegan. In a notice published by An Bord Pleanala, it confirms that the ESB is now engaging with the appeals board in pre-application consultation for its planned fabrication facility for the construction and assembly of floating offshore wind turbines. The pre-application consultation is required under the Government’s Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID) system and is a prelude to formal plans being lodged with An Bord Pleanala. The production facility for the off-shore wind-turbines is part of the ESB’s overall multi billion euro Green Atlantic at Moneypoint programme that is to transform the power station site into a green energy hub. The …

THE government has been urged to reverse the planned end of coal-powered electricity generation in Moneypoint Power Generating Station by 2025 in the absence of alternative energy sources being available to fill the gap, writes Dan Danaher. The call was made by Independent Deputy Michael McNamara, who has criticised the Government’s policy of closing power stations during an energy crisis in the hope that they will eventually be replaced with green energy sources at an unspecified time in the future. In the absence of assurances that Ireland will have alternative energy sources in place by 2025, Deputy McNamara believes the government should reverse its decision concerning the proposed end for coal-powered electricity at West Clare power generating station. Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday night during a debate on a Bill introducing the €100 electricity credit scheme for householders, Deputy McNamara said growing concerns over Ireland’s energy security are being exacerbated by the closure of the country’s power stations and …

THE impact on the environment of importing fracked gas into the Shannon Estuary will be worse over a 20-year period than importing coal to generate electricity in Moneypoint, a local environmentalist has claimed. Shannon LNG has outlined its plans to seeking planning permission from An Bord Pleanála to build a €650 million liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal between Ballylongford and Tarbert in North Kerry. An LNG terminal is a facility for regasifying liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped in by an LNG tanker from production zones. Johnny McElligott, Tarbert of Safety Before LNG, has been opposing the proposed gas terminal for years. In his address to the rally, Mr McElligott alleged that importing fracked gas from the United States of America into the Shannon Estuary will have a 44% higher carbon equivalent footprint over a 20-year period than importing coal from Colombia to burn in Moneypoint. “We are going to close Moneypoint because it looks good, but we are going to …