asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether all Electricity Supply Board generating stations are operating to full capacity; and what percentage load constitutes such full capacity.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - E.S.B. Stations Operated to Full Capacity.
41.
When there is ample water at the hydro stations, all hydro generating units are run at full output and full capacity for such period as is necessary to ensure the use of the water available. When there is ample turf available for the turf stations, all turf-fired generating units are run at full output and capacity for such period as is necessary to use the annual production of turf. When there is ample supply of water and turf, the coal/oil fired stations operate to meet the balance of the system load. Some of these may be at full capacity and others may not.
When there is shortage of water for the hydro stations, which usually occurs in the Autumn, the steam stations must make good the deficiency and in the last two years when water supplies were at lowest, all the steam stations including both turf and coal/oil stations had to be used at times to maximum output capacity.
The answer to the second part of the question is 100%; this refers to the kilowatt rating of the plant.