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Tag Archives: ESB

Moneypoint key to Ireland meeting its climate targets

Ireland could become net exporter of energy once Green Atlantic project comes fully to fruition, reports Dan Danaher. THE creation of a new multi-billion euro green energy hub at Moneypoint Power Station can help Ireland to become a net exporter of energy, the ESB has predicted. In line with the Government’s ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, ESB has stated the transformation of Moneypoint in County Clare into a green energy hub will help Ireland to become a leader in green energy production. Green Atlantic is a new ambitious plan, which includes the proposed development of new off-shore wind farm with the potential to power 1.6 million homes. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, ESB chief executive, Pat O’Doherty stated Green Atlantic at Moneypoint reflects the scale of its ambition and commitment to creating a cleaner, brighter and more sustainable future for everyone. “Ireland imports 80% of its requirements in the form of coal, oil and gas. …

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Staff ‘delighted’ as future of power plant is mapped out

YEARS of uncertainty for Moneypoint employees came to an end last week, with the direction for their plant being unveiled, and assurances that their jobs will be sustained into the future. In addition the construction of new infrastructure and support services are set to see the creation of hundreds of new jobs, providing a massive and overdue economic boost for West Clare. After coal burning ceases in 2025, the plant will continue in back-up mode, until the first phase of the new green energy development comes on stream three years later. The lack of a plan for a future after coal burning ended was a huge concern for west Clare, while significant job losses at the plant in 2019 meant the outlook was rather bleak, but one worker said that staff have been thrilled with last week’s development. “From the feedback I’m getting, everyone is over the moon and everyone is delighted. They’re going to use the site below to …

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Green Atlantic windfarm will create up to 600 new jobs

BETWEEN 50 and 100 jobs will be created to provide a new €50 million Synchronous Compensator in Moneypoint Power Station as part of the ESB’s exciting new €5 billion Green Atlantic development, reports Dan Danaher. This Synchronous Compensator, which will be the largest of its kind in the world, will provide a range of electrical services to the electricity grid, which would previously have been supplied by thermal-fired power stations. Its operation will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system. While Moneypoint plant manager, Sean Hegarty was unable this week to provide an exact number of new jobs in advance of signing this major new work contract for the site, he estimates a major construction of this scale usually requires between 50 and 100 people. It is estimated the construction of the new offshore windfarm will create up to 600 new jobs, pending planning approval. This new Synchronous Compensator will be sub contracted to a major manufacturer who may …

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Concern over loss of Moneypoint Power Station Contract

WEST Clare workers mustn’t be forced to carry an undue burden after Moneypoint Power Station lost a major contract and main source of income from October 2024, according to a local Dáil deputy. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne has urged the government to sit down the workers at Moneypoint, trade union representatives and local representatives to ensure that West Clare people are not forced to carry an undue burden as the state transitions to a sustainable energy environment. The latest blow for Moneypoint comes about 12 months after about 100 workers lost their jobs as part of a restructuring plan. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the ESB expressed its disappointment that the Moneypoint units did not prequalify for the T-4 auction for the period October 2024 to September 2025. This means that Moneypoint will have no capacity income, which is its primary source of income, from October 2024. “This presents further viability challenges to the Moneypoint station which has …

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Loughnane brothers remembered on centenary of their deaths

AN OLD forge that was owned by the family of two of South Galway’s War of Independence heroes is fighting to stay open as a community venue, due to punitive running costs and the difficulty of fundraising during the pandemic. The 200-year-old building in Shanaglish was run by the family of Patrick and Harry Loughnane, who were killed in one of the most brutal atrocities of the war. In the 1990s, the building was carefully restored by Beagh Rural Development, but today the group is struggling to cover the commercial electricity charges levelled by the ESB. Ordinarily, fund-raising events would help to raise the €600 needed annually to foot the bill, but these activities have all but come to a halt because of the pandemic. The challenge comes at a time when the community is working to mark the deaths of the Loughnane brothers and commemorate their killings. Their story is one that still evokes an emotional response in Beagh …

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Call for ‘joined up thinking’ as storm season approaches

JOINED up thinking between agencies including the local authority, the ESB and Eir, as owners of the phone infrastructure network, has been called for in the wake of Storm Ellen in East Clare. Addressing the most recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Pat Burke said the storm had had a far more serious impact on East Clare than had been forecast. “If you were in Ennis, Quin or Tulla,” he said, “you’d hardly have noticed that there had been a storm. But, there was an awful lot of damage in areas around Scariff, Mountshannon and Whitegate.” The Fine Gael member commended the work of council crews, the fire service and local farmers and landowners. “Local people were out helping with chain saws and tractors to open a number of roads,” he said. “We’re very grateful to them and there was a very coordinated approach taken between themselves and the council and the ESB.” In relation to the extensive …

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Killaloe Cathaoirleach critical of Eir in wake of Storm Ellen outages

STORM Ellen resulted in thousands of homes and businesses in East Clare being left without power and phone coverage, some for a number of days, as repair crews worked into last weekend to repair damage. The situation, which caused serious inconvenience for local retailers and households over the course of last Thursday and Friday, prompted the Cathaoirleach of the Killlaoe Municipal District to call on the main operators of the fixed-line network to keep their customers better informed in terms of outages and repair times. Eir came in from considerable criticism from Councillor Pat Hayes, who said the company needed to do more to support customers the event of widespread outages. “The power and phone outages caused real difficulties for people from Scariff, Mountshannon and out as far as Whitegate, after Storm Ellen,” he said. “The council and the Fire Service did a huge amount of work. The ESB, in fairness, were very helpful and, as always, responded as quickly …

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Decision needed on the future of Moneypoint

WITH West Clare’s tourism sector set for a difficult spell ahead, the future of Moneypoint is particularly critical to the region’s economy. Kilrush based county councillor Ian Lynch said that the slow progress in establishing what the future will hold is very frustrating. “The momentum has been taken out of the economy and we have spent years discussing how Moneypoint can be a key stimulus to it. There are several opportunities out there that we’re just not allowed to explore because the ESB aren’t willing to open the deepwater port. I think a couple of weeks ago the ESB said that the possibility of Moneypoint being shut down in the near future is becoming more likely. I don’t believe that because I do think it’ll always be there as a back-up, there would still be maintenance, but the amount of shifts would be minimal in the year. ESB management aren’t willing to open up the port for reuse, they’re talking …

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