Moneypoint power station

Moneypoint power station
Moneypoint Power Station as seen from County Kerry
CountryIreland
Location
Coordinates52°36′27″N 9°25′27″W / 52.6075°N 9.4243°W / 52.6075; -9.4243
StatusOperational
Commission date
  • September 1985
Owner
Thermal power station
Primary fuel
Secondary fuel
Turbine technology
Site area
  • 170 ha (420 acres)
Power generation
Units operational3 × 305 MW
Make and modelFoster Wheeler (3)
Nameplate capacity
  • 915 MW
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

Moneypoint power station (Irish: Stáisiún cumhachta Ghob na Muine) is a large power station in Ireland which ceased to be a coal-fired power station in June 2025. After ceasing burning coal, it is to operate as a "back-up out-of-market generator" using heavy oil for electricity generation until 2029. The facility also operates a flywheel synchronous condenser providing grid-stabilization services.

For a period, Moneypoint was Ireland's largest electricity generation station (with an output 915 MW), and its only coal-fired plant. Commissioned between 1985 and 1987, it is located on the River Shannon, near Kilrush in County Clare, and was constructed at a cost of more than £700m. The station originally operated largely on coal, making it both unique in the context of Irish electricity production and for a while was the country's single largest emitter of greenhouse gases. At its peak, it was capable of meeting around 25% of customer demand across the country but by 2023, coal's share of the electricity fuel mix in Ireland had fallen to 4%.

When operating as a coal-fired power station, it had three Brown Boveri four-cylinder, single-shaft impulse reaction turbines which were directly connected to three electric generators. The steam was generated by three Foster Wheeler two-pass boilers, which converted water into high pressure steam by combustion of the coal.

The power station chimneys, at 218m, are the tallest free-standing structures in Ireland.

History

Moneypoint was under construction from 1979 to 1987. Before its construction, Ireland depended heavily on imported oil for its energy. During the 1970s, a sharp increase in oil prices over a short period of time led the government and the Electricity Supply Board to choose coal as a fuel, as it was seen as a plentiful resource with a stable price.

In 2019, the government launched its climate action plan which included a commitment to end the burning of coal in Moneypoint by 2025, and replace coal-fired generation with "low-carbon and renewable technologies". As of 2021, one option being explored was a 400 MW floating wind farm with an onshore hydrogen facility. A plan was announced in April 2021 by its owner, the ESB Group, to replace the facility with a green-energy hub.

In 2023, it was reported that the plant would continue operations until 2029 as an oil-burning back-up facility of last resort. By 2024, the ESB Group had been granted permission to convert the facility for use as a Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) generator. It has two HFO storage tanks with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes.

In June 2025, coal-burning ceased at Moneypoint.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Creatphlean Comhtháite Straitéiseach d'Inbhear na Sionainne (Strategic Integrated Framework Plan for the Shannon Estuary) (PDF) (Report) (in Irish). Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Shannon Development, Shannon Foynes Port Company. p. 7. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Moneypoint Power Station to end coal burning after 40 years", rte.ie, 20 June 2025
  3. ↑ Radowitz, Bernd (4 May 2021). "Siemens Energy technology to stabilise grid at giant Irish floating wind energy hub". Recharge | Latest renewable energy news. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "ESB History Timeline". esb.ie. Archived from the original on 22 May 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
  5. ↑ McMahon, Páraic (24 October 2022). "Electricity generation from coal at Moneypoint up this year". clareecho.ie. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  6. 1 2 "ESB informational document" (PDF). esb.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Moneypoint to power on despite protests". The Times. The Times (UK). 15 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Business: New-tech solution 'could clean up' Moneypoint". Irish Independent. 12 December 2006.
  9. ↑ "ESB Announces Green Atlantic at Moneypoint". esb.ie (Press release). 9 April 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2024. At its peak, Moneypoint produced 25% of Ireland's electricity requirements
  10. ↑ "ENERGY IN IRELAND 2023 Report" (PDF). seai.ie. p. 146.
  11. ↑ "About ESB: Moneypoint - Station History Construction". esb.ie. Archived from the original on 24 August 2003. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "About ESB: Moneypoint - The station". esb.ie. Archived from the original on 14 April 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2009.
  13. ↑ "About ESB: Moneypoint - Fuel type". esb.ie. Archived from the original on 23 December 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  14. ↑ "Climate Action Plan 2019" (PDF). gov.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  15. ↑ "New Moneypoint offshore wind energy plan will power 1.5 million homes". The Clare Champion. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021.
  16. ↑ "Ireland to replace last coal plant with huge green hub and floating wind farm". 12 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Moneypoint power station to be kept open until 2029 despite emissions concerns". The Irish Times. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  18. ↑ Moneypoint power station gets approval for conversion to 'last resort' Heavy Fuel Oil generator, 3 October 2024
Moneypoint powerstation from Tarbert