asked the Minister for Energy if he will give an estimate of (1) the amount of sulphur dioxide which will be emitted per annum from the ESB Moneypoint power plant; and (2) the cost of a desulphurisation system which would greatly eliminate the formation of acid rain.
Written Answers. - Sulphur Dioxide Emission at Moneypoint.
29.
When Moneypoint reaches its full capacity of 900 MW, it is estimated that emissions of SO2 will be about 67,000 tonnes per annum.
The ESB are presently carrying out a cost appraisal, at the direction of the Government, of installing flue gas desulphurisation systems at Moneypoint and other generating stations. The study is almost complete and a report is expected shortly. It should be stated, however, that successive independent studies by An Foras Forbartha and An Foras Talúntais have indicated that there will be no environmental problems caused by sulphur dioxide emissions at Moneypoint. The ESB have also carried out their own analysis which indicates that the sulphur dioxide levels will at all points be well within the stringent limit values set as conditions for the granting of planning permission by Clare County Council.
Nevertheless, the ESB have built a total of 14 strategically located monitoring stations which will provide reliable environmental information. Arrangements have been made to have this monitoring validated independently by An Foras Forbartha. To date, since the start-up of the first of the three generating units in September last, there has been no indication of any adverse environmental impact arising from emissions at Moneypoint.