Moneypoint power station
{{Short description|Electricity generating station in Ireland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox power station
| country = Ireland
| image = Inis Cathaigh Moneypoint crop.jpg
| image_caption = Moneypoint Power Station as seen from County Kerry
}}
Moneypoint power station ({{Langx|ga|Stáisiún cumhachta Ghob na Muine}}){{cite report | url = https://www.limerick.ie/sites/default/files/sifp_irish_vol_1.pdf | page = 7 |language = Irish | title = Creatphlean Comhtháite Straitéiseach d'Inbhear na Sionainne (Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary) | publisher = Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Shannon Development, Shannon Foynes Port Company | accessdate = 30 September 2023 }} is Ireland's largest electricity generation station (with an output 915 MW){{Cite web|url=http://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/history.jsp|title=ESB History Timeline|website=esb.ie|access-date=6 July 2010|archive-date=22 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522220837/http://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/history.jsp|url-status=dead}} and its only coal-fired power station.{{cite web|url = https://www.clareecho.ie/electricity-generation-from-coal-at-moneypoint-up-this-year/ | website = clareecho.ie | title = Electricity generation from coal at Moneypoint up this year | first = Páraic | last = McMahon | date = 24 October 2022 | accessdate = 30 September 2023 }} Commissioned between 1985 and 1987,{{Cite web|url =https://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/power-stations-pdfs/ESB_MONEYPOINT_POWER_STATION.pdf|title =ESB informational document|url-status =dead|archiveurl =https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002008/http://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/power-stations-pdfs/ESB_MONEYPOINT_POWER_STATION.pdf|archivedate =2015-09-24 | website = esb.ie }} it is located on the River Shannon, near Kilrush in County Clare, and was constructed at a cost of more than £700m.{{cite web|url = https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/moneypoint-to-power-on-despite-protests-qkbblf8cm | website = The Times | publisher = The Times (UK) | title = Moneypoint to power on despite protests | date = 15 July 2018 }} The station operates largely on coal, making it both unique in the context of Irish electricity production and for a while was the country's single largest emitter of greenhouse gases.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/new-tech-solution-could-clean-up-moneypoint/26350785.html | work = Irish Independent | title = Business: New-tech solution 'could clean up' Moneypoint | date = 12 December 2006 }} At its peak, it was capable of meeting around 25% of customer demand across the country.{{cite press release|url=https://esb.ie/media-centre-news/press-releases/article/2021/04/09/esb-announces-green-atlantic-@-moneypoint |title=ESB Announces Green Atlantic at Moneypoint |date = 9 April 2021 |accessdate=25 July 2024 | website = esb.ie | quote = At its peak, Moneypoint produced 25% of Ireland's electricity requirements }} But by 2023, coal's share of the electricity fuel mix in Ireland had fallen to 4%.{{cite web|url=https://www.seai.ie/publications/Energy-in-Ireland-2023.pdf|title=ENERGY IN IRELAND 2023 Report | website = seai.ie|page=146 }}
In 2021, its owner, the ESB Group, announced the facility would be closed and replaced with a green-energy hub.{{cite web|url=https://reneweconomy.com.au/ireland-to-replace-last-coal-plant-with-huge-green-hub-and-floating-wind-farm/|date=2021-04-12|title=Ireland to replace last coal plant with huge green hub and floating wind farm}}
It has two Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) storage tanks with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes which can be used as a back-up fuel if required.
Three Brown Boveri four-cylinder, single-shaft impulse reaction turbines are directly connected to three generators which generate the power. The steam is generated by three Foster Wheeler two-pass boilers, which convert water into high pressure steam by combustion of the coal.
The power station chimneys, at 218m, are the tallest free-standing structures in Ireland.
History
{{see also|Nuclear power in the Republic of Ireland#Carnsore Point}}
Moneypoint was under construction from 1979 to 1987.{{cite web|url=http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/stationhistory/construction.jsp |title=About ESB: Moneypoint - Station History Construction |accessdate=2014-08-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20030824175103/http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/stationhistory/construction.jsp |archivedate=2003-08-24 | website = esb.ie }} Before its construction, Ireland depended heavily on imported oil for its energy.{{cite web|url=http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/thestation/index.jsp |title=About ESB: Moneypoint - The station |accessdate=2009-08-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090414233453/http://esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/thestation/index.jsp |archivedate=2009-04-14 | website = esb.ie }} The 1970s sharp increase in oil prices over a short period of time led the government and the Electricity Supply Board to choose coal as a fuel, as it was seen as a plentiful resource with a stable price.{{cite web|url=http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/thestation/fueltype.jsp |title=About ESB: Moneypoint - Fuel type |accessdate=2009-09-24 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081223125814/http://www.esb.ie/main/about_esb/powerstations/moneypoint/thestation/fueltype.jsp |archivedate=2008-12-23 | website = esb.ie }}
A flywheel synchronous condenser to stabilize the grid was ordered for operation at Moneypoint by 2022.{{cite web |last1=Radowitz |first1=Bernd |title=Siemens Energy technology to stabilise grid at giant Irish floating wind energy hub |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/siemens-energy-technology-to-stabilise-grid-at-giant-irish-floating-wind-energy-hub/2-1-1005116 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210505180644/https://www.rechargenews.com/energy-transition/siemens-energy-technology-to-stabilise-grid-at-giant-irish-floating-wind-energy-hub/2-1-1005116 |archive-date=5 May 2021 |language=en |date=4 May 2021 |url-status=live}}
In 2019, the government launched its climate action plan which included a commitment to end the burning of coal in Moneypoint by 2025,{{cite web|url=https://dccae.gov.ie/documents/Climate%20Action%20Plan%202019.pdf |title=Climate Action Plan 2019 |accessdate=2019-07-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20190717202339/https://dccae.gov.ie/documents/Climate%20Action%20Plan%202019.pdf|archivedate=2019-07-17 | website = gov.ie }} and replace coal-fired generation with "low-carbon and renewable technologies". One option being explored is a 400 MW floating wind farm with an onshore hydrogen facility.{{cite web |title=New Moneypoint offshore wind energy plan will power 1.5 million homes |url=https://clarechampion.ie/new-moneypoint-offshore-wind-energy-plan-will-power-1-5-million-homes/ |website=The Clare Champion |date=8 April 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210411212538/https://clarechampion.ie/new-moneypoint-offshore-wind-energy-plan-will-power-1-5-million-homes/ |archive-date=11 April 2021 |url-status=live}}
The plant was planned to be closed in 2025 but operation was extended to 2029.{{Cite web |title=Moneypoint power station to be kept open until 2029 despite emissions concerns |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/environment/climate-crisis/2023/09/28/moneypoint-power-station-to-be-kept-open-until-2029-despite-emissions-concerns/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Ireland|Energy}}
{{Commons category|Moneypoint Power Station}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150724213412/http://www.esb.ie/main/about-esb/power-stations-pdfs/ESB_MONEYPOINT_POWER_STATION.pdf Official Information Sheet (PDF)] (archived 2015)
{{Electricity generation in Ireland}}
Category:Coal-fired power stations in the Republic of Ireland
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