MONEYPOINT has ceased the burning of coal at its plant after forty years.
As of Friday, the ESB is no longer burning coal at Moneypoint but the West Clare plant will continue to provide security of supply for Ireland’s electricity system.
In what has been labelled a significant milestone in ESB’s Net Zero carbon emissions strategy, the end of coal generation has occurred six months earlier than planned.
Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Timmy Dooley (FF) joined ESB Chief Executive Paddy Hayes and Moneypoint station manager Stevie O’Mahoney to mark the milestone.
Moneypoint commenced its transition away from fossil fuel generation on site in 2017 with the construction of a 17MW onshore wind farm. In 2021, ESB announced Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint, a multi-billion-euro ambitious plan to transform the site into one of the country’s largest renewable energy hubs, utilising its deep-water port and existing infrastructure.
Phase one of this plan was completed in 2022 with a €50 million investment in Ireland’s first synchronous compensator, a zero-carbon technology that allows the system to utilise ever increasing amounts of use of renewable electricity.
Developed in the 1980s to mitigate against the then oil crisis, Moneypoint is one of Ireland’s largest energy generation stations. In 2023, ESB and EirGrid signed an agreement to keep Moneypoint available to generate on oil from 2025 up to 2029 and will only be required to operate when the electricity system is short of generating capacity, and under instruction from EirGrid. Oil generation is less carbon intensive than coal generation and the station is expected to see significantly less running during this four year period.
According to Minister for Climate, Energy and Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD (FF), the move is “the next step” in Moneypoint’s journey. He stated, “The role that Moneypoint has played in providing Ireland with a reliable supply of electricity for more than four decades cannot be overstated”. He added, “This is not just a significant move for ESB but also for the country as a whole as Ireland powers forward to deliver the clean energy transition underpinned by a secure electricity system”. He said, “I look forward to what is to come for Moneypoint as it continues to transform into a strategic energy hub for Ireland”.
Junior Minister Dooley commented, “The early end of coal generation at Moneypoint represents a significant milestone for ESB and is another important step in Ireland’s energy transformation. It is the people of the Mid-West that have made this possible”.
ESB CEO, Hayes stated, “Marking the end of coal generation in Moneypoint is an important milestone in ESB’s progress towards net zero. It is a significant step in Moneypoint’s transformation into a renewable energy hub, supporting a low carbon future while continuing to support energy security. Moneypoint, the teams working here, and the communities across West Clare have been at the heart of powering Ireland’s electricity system for the best part of 40 years so far – and I would like to thank all those who have played a part in that”.
Cathal Marley, Chief Executive of EirGrid also noted it as a momentous occasion. He explained, “EirGrid has been tasked with delivering a renewable-led electricity transmission system, which will benefit our economy and society, requiring the delivery of an unprecedented level of upgrades and new infrastructure. As we transition, it’s important that we maintain a secure supply of electricity. While Moneypoint will no longer use coal, we entered an agreement with ESB, following direction from our regulator, CRU, to make Moneypoint units available on a temporary basis as out of market units up to 31st March 2029. The units will operate using oil as the primary fuel source and will support the overall adequacy position for Ireland, alongside the other measures in CRU’s Security of Supply Programme”.
