Plans to use midland power station site for emergency generation

An application has been made to generate electricity from the site of a former peat fired power station. 

West Offaly Power in Shannonbridge was closed in 2020 as part of the government’s move away from peat fired electricity generation.

Now an application has been made under Section 4 of the Development (Emergency Electricity Generation) Act 2022 (the Act) to generate electricity again at the West Offaly Power Station. 

If successful, the application would allow eight gas turbines generate 264 MW of electricity on the West Offaly Power site. 

According to the application with An Bord Pleanala, the “ESB has entered into an agreement with EirGrid to progress certain time-sensitive works which includes the preparation of application documents to seek approval from the Minister for the Designated Development under the above legislation.”

“The plant will operate as an emergency plant, with a maximum running time of 500 hours per annum, spending the majority of time on standby, and will be run to meet emergency of supply needs while complementing renewable power generation sources,” the application documents state.

Green light given to demolish iconic Midlands power station

“With regard to the operational phase, it is envisaged that the Designated Development will have to be temporarily operational at the WOP Station site for approximately five years. At the end of the temporary period, the Designated Development will be decommissioned, dismantled, and removed from this Site. Decommissioning would therefore be expected to commence at the end of 2028,” they added. 

The case is due to be decided by March 23.