asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he will outline the plans which the ESB have under consideration at present for the erection of new power stations; if he will state in the case of each power station planned (a) the total cost of erection, and (b) the type of fuel to be used; whether any investigations were carried out to date either by his Department or by the ESB as to the economic practicability of nucleartype power stations; and, if so, what investigations were made and what conclusions were reached.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - ESB Power Stations.
3.
I have approved the following generating plant programme of the ESB for commissioning in the years indicated: additional 60 megawatt oil-fired set at Ringsend, Dublin, 1966-67; additional 40 megawatt milled peat set at Lanesboro, County Longford, 1966-67; new station (two 60 megawatt oil-fired sets) at Great Island, County Wexford, 1967-68 and 1968-69; new station (two 60 megawatt oil-fired sets) at Tarbert, County Kerry, 1969-70; and new station (two 120 megawatt oil-fired sets) at Pigeon House, Dublin, 1970-71.
The estimated erection costs of these projects is: Lanesboro, £2.7m.; Great Island, £7m.; Tarbert, £7.5m.; Pigeon House, £16m.
The additional set being provided at Ringsend forms part of a project for three 60 megawatt sets, two of which are already commissioned. The total cost of this project is £9.3m. Separate costs are not available in respect of any one individual set.
This programme may be subject to some adjustment if required by changes in the demand for electricity.
The possibilities of nuclear power for electricity generation are under review by the Electricity Supply Board. The Board advise me that the cost of nuclear energy generating plants, depending on their size and type, can be two or three times greater than that of conventional plants using coal or oil. Because of the high capital cost, a nuclear generating plant requires to be run at full load for the major part of the year, day and night, in order to produce electricity economically. In this country there is relatively little three-shift industry giving rise to a continuous 24 hour demand for electricity. Furthermore, in accordance with Government policy the Board's hydro and native fuel stations are given priority. The balance of the base load to be supplied otherwise is not expected to be large enough to support a nuclear powered station for several years.