Politicians plead for upgrade despite maximum output at Ardnacrusha

THE delivery of a proposed pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) project in South-East Clare would help sustain the future of Ardnacrusha Power Station, according to a local county councillor.

Councillor Michael Begley also believes representations from deputies and county councillors should concentrate their efforts on projects that help sustain employment in Ardnacrusha Power Station, considering its current output is at its maximum level.

The Clonlara councillor proposed the feasibility of PHS in a number of locations in South-East Clare or just across the border in North Tipperary should be seriously considered by the ESB as a means of sustaining jobs in the Ardnacrusha Power Station into the future. 

The method stores energy in the form of potential energy of water, pumped from a lower elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. Low-cost, off-peak electric power is used to run the pumps. During periods of high electrical demand, the stored water is released through turbines to produce electric power.

Although the losses of the pumping process makes the plant a net consumer of energy overall, the system increases revenue by selling more electricity during periods of peak demand, when electricity prices are highest.

Councillor Begley suggested water could be pumped to a high upland area in Toutinna just outside Ballina, or to the highest mountain in Clare at Moylussa between Ogonnelloe and Killaloe.

Apart from operational costs, the Independent councillor pointed out hydroelectricity is the cheapest form of generating electricity and a PSH project could avail of the 440 kilowatt lines, which were already located near Killaloe.

He said his main concern was to try and maintain existing levels of employment considering a plant in Sweden with five times the capacity was apparently being run by four men on different shifts.

 

He estimated the number of employees at Ardnacrusha has fallen from 237 to between 40 and 50.

His comments came after the ESB confirmed in a letter to Clare County Council that the output of Ardnacrusha is at its maximum with the current design of the Shannon scheme and as justified by the rainfall profile on the Shannon scheme.

The company outlined its position in response to a motion from Councillor Cathal Crowe requesting the Government to support the upgrading of Ardnacrusha Power Station.

Catherine Halpin of ESB general operations confirmed Ardnacrusha represents about 2% of the total generation requirement for the country when it was operating at full load. It has four units, three of which have been operating since 1929, while the fourth was installed in 1934.

Currently, it produces about 332,000 WW hours of electricity annually from the four installed turbines in the station.

“In the mid 1990s, a large overhaul programme was undertaken to refurbish the units and to replace key component parts. This was undertaken to ensure a viable future for the operating plant. During this overhaul, the output of the units was maintained but with an ability to maximise it for short intervals to 92 MWs, Ms Halpin said.

“ESB plan a significant investment in 2013, refurbishing some of the units in Ardnacrusha. Separate to this investment, ESB is continually maintaining and investing in its generation units in Ardnacrusha,” she concluded.
Clare County Council has received a number of letters from Clare Fianna Fáil deputy, Timmy Dooley; Cork North-West deputy, Michael Moynihan; Limerick East deputy, Willie O’Dea; Limerick deputy Dan Neville; Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan and Clare deputy, Pat Breen supporting the proposal, despite the fact that Ardnacrusha is at full capacity.

Even though Ms Halpin has outlined the capacity limitations for electricity generation at Ardnacrusha, Councillor Crowe still hopes the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Pat Rabitte TD, will consider various other ways through which the plant can be upgraded and enhanced in the years ahead.

“The plant is hydroelectric and offers a cheaper and more environmentally friendly alternative to electricity produced at plants powered by fossil fuels. The weir at O’Brien’s Bridge and dam at Ardnacrusha also help to manage water flows on the lower Shannon River,” he said.