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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Electricity Generation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has carried out an assessment of electricity requirements up to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4404/00]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number, location and capacity of operating and proposed electricity generating stations; the extent to which the national requirement is being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/00]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.

Economic growth in recent years has been reflected in record levels of growth in demand for electricity by all sectors of the economy, averaging around 6% per annum in recent years.

In general, the current and foreseeable levels of growth in demand for electricity will require the provision of between 150MW and 200MW of additional capacity each year for the foreseeable future, by means of new plant or imports over the interconnector.

The ESB, in consultation with my Department, published a report in October 1998 on "Generation Capacity Requirements to 2005" for the information of the industry. This was done having regard to the imminent opening of the market to competition under EU provisions. An update of this report is being prepared by ESB at the request of the Commission for Electricity Regulation in response to the requirement of section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.

I am informed that growth in demand for electricity is being managed competently by the ESB. I have received a categoric assurance from the chairman of ESB that there will be no shortages in electricity supply this winter or during winter 2000-spring 2001.

The ESB has recently commissioned the third unit, 160MW of its plant at Poolbeg and the new 120MW peat fired plant at Edenderry will be coming on stream in December of this year.

It is accepted that a major tranche of additional capacity will be required two years from now, that is, for winter 2001-spring 2002. In that regard, the ESB and the independent power consortium Viridian-CRH recently received planning permission for two large new gas fired generation plants, of 400 and 600MW respectively, at Ringsend and Huntstown, north County Dublin.

In addition to this and arising from a meeting on 7 December 1999 between me and Sir Reg Empey, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, the grid operators on each side of the Border are proceeding with plans to upgrade the existing North-South interconnector over the next 18 months from around 280MW currently to around 400MW.
The ESB currently has approximately 4500MW of installed generating capacity provided by 19 power stations listed at the end of this reply. Arising from the opening of the electricity market to competition from the 19th of this month, interests have signalled their intention to enter the generating market. Some of these have lodged planning applications.
In summary, the current capacity situation is being managed professionally by the ESB and as regards the future, I am confident the additional capacity required by economic growth will be provided by the industry based on projects currently planned or in the pipeline.
ESB Power Stations

Name

Type

Capacity

Moneypoint

Coal

915MW

Tarbert

Oil

632MW

Great Island

Oil

240MW

Aghada

Gas/Oil

540MW

Poolbeg

Gas/Oil

980MW

North Wall

Gas/Oil

267MW

Marina

Gas

115MW

Shannonbridge

Milled Peat

125MW

Ferbane

Milled Peat

30MW

Lanesboro

Milled Peat

85MW

Rhode

Milled Peat

40MW

Bellacorick

Milled Peat

40MW

Cahirciveen

Sod Peat

5MW

Turlough Hill

Pump Storage

292MW

Liffey/Poulaphouca

Hydro

38MW

Ardnacrusha

Hydro

86MW

Erne

Hydro

65MW

Clady

Hydro

4MW

Lee/Inniscarra

Hydro

27MW

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