Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 29 Jun 1995

Vol. 455 No. 3

Written Answers - Efficiency Levels of Electricity Production.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

118 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the efficiency levels of production of electricity for the various generating stations and categories of fuel, namely water, turf, oil, gas and coal as currently operated by the ESB in mega watts per man per hour or other available criteria; if production from natural gas is the most efficient; the potential efficiency level of the new section of Poolbeg station; and the reason he has refused to sanction phases 2 and 3 of the new plant since the unions and management have agreed new productivity levels. [12110/95]

Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications (Mr. Lowry)

In view of the commercial sensitivity of the information requested, it would not be appropriate for me to give details in relation to efficiency levels for each of the various generating stations currently operated by ESB.

However in overall terms, the estimated thermal efficiency for fuels used in 1994 in the production of electricity is as follows:

Fuel	Thermal Efficiency (%)
Gas	39.1
Coal	37.9
Oil	36.9
Milled Peat	25.3
Average	34.8

No decision on approving Phase 2 and 3 of the Poolbeg Power Station will be taken until it can be demonstrated that the ESB is operating efficiently and in line with best international practices.