Moneypoint planning approval is a big win for West Clare

PLANNING approval for the Moneypoint power station to transition from a coal to an oil fired facility has been described by Clare Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey as an important step on the pathway to its eventual redevelopment into an offshore wind and flexible generation energy hub.

She said that the decision by An Bord Pleanála to grant permission for Moneypoint to operate as an oil fired station from 2025 to 2029 will allow it to serve as a back-up power source in the event of unforeseen issues with maintaining Ireland’s electricity supply.

Oil generation is less carbon intensive than coal generation and the station is expected to see significantly less running time over the next five years as it will only operate under instruction from Eirgrid when the national grid is short of generating capacity.

Retaining Moneypoint’s generation capacity until 2029 forms part of a suite of measures being implemented by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to enhance the security of Ireland’s electricity supply.  

“Not only will this give more time for Moneypoint to be converted to a renewable energy hub but it will also provide significant employment opportunities both in the construction of oil storage facilities and the subsequent decommissioning of the fossil fuelled installations”, Ms Carey explained.

“It is vital that this opportunity is used to maximum effect in ensuring that the preparation, planning and tendering processes are completed by the end of the decade. It is also significant that Moneypoint will not participate in the electricity markets during that period.

“A significant volume of new generation capacity is expected to come online in the late 2020s. This new generation capacity will end the need for Moneypoint to be available to generate on oil and the existing fossil fuel generating plant will be fully decommissioned.

“The ESB has committed to end coal fired generation at Moneypoint next year as part of its “Net Zero by 2040” strategy. ESB and Eirgrid signed an agreement last year to keep Moneypoint available to generate on oil up to 2029 and this was enabled by last week’s decision by An Bord Pleanála,” she added.