Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 3

Written Answers. - Electricity Generating Capacity.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

109 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the current total electricity generating capacity of the ESB and by the private sector; the power plants and other electricity generating facilities currently under construction; the generating capacity and the anticipated completion date of each; the further generating stations being planned; and the likely commencement and completion dates of each. [9083/01]

Minister for Public Enterprise (Mrs. O'Rourke)

In accordance with section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999, ESB National Grid is required to prepare a forecast statement to include generating capacity requirements, in a form and at such intervals as the Commission for Electricity Regulation may direct.

According to the most recent forecast statement, entitled, Generation Capacity Requirements to 2006, and published in March 2000, the installed plant position at the end of 1999 was as follows:

ESB Power Generation Plant	4,318MW
Small Scale Generation Plant	226MW
Total	4,544 MW

As shown above, ESB power generation plant forms the bulk of the existing plant total for capacity planning purposes. To this aggregate must be added auto-producer capacity and other small scale generation plant such as that installedvia alternative energy requirement schemes.

Since the above forecast statement, the most notable additions have been the 160MW unit at Poolbeg and the 120MW peat plant at Edenderry. I understand that ESB National Grid is currently preparing an update of the forecast statement which will cover the generation capacity requirements to 2007. This is expected to be published in the near future.

In relation to the construction of future generating stations, the position is that prospective power producers apply to the Commission for Electricity Regulation for the necessary authorisations and licences in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999. Details of these applications and their status can be found on the commission's website at www.cer.ie.

In the context of the above, a number of power producers have well developed plans to build new gas fired generating plants. Two such facilities are currently under construction, a 400MW plant being built by Synergen and a 340MW plant being built by Huntstown Power Company Limited. Both of these will provide significant additional tranches of generating capacity in 2002-03.

In addition, the upgrading of the North/South electricity interconnector from 280MW to 400MW is proceeding according to plan and is on track for completion before the end of 2001. The 500MW Moyle interconnector between Scotland and Northern Ireland is expected to come on stream around the second half of 2001, adding to overall system security.