*Photograph: John Mangan

MONEYPOINT will continue to function as a reserve electricity supplier until the end of this decade.

Clare County Council has received confirmation from the ESB that as part of a proposed suite of measures to address the medium term security of electricity, Moneypoint will serve as an out of market generator of last resort from 2025 until 2029.

In the event of a shortfall in generation capacity that could threaten overall consumer supply, Moneypoint will be called into action by Eirgrid.

As part of ESB’s commitment to cease coal burning activities at the country’s largest electricity generating station by 2025, the facility will be converted to run on oil for this period, subject to a grant of planning permission.

Once Moneypoint is no longer required as a generator of last resort , the existing thermal generator at the plant will be decommissioned.

Officials from EirGrid in a briefing before the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of Clare County Council in March stated that an approximate €3.5bn needs to be spent developing the grid up to 2030 with Moneypoint still viewed as offering excellent transfer capabilities.

At the beginning of September, ESB took delivery of a massive shipment of coal from a controversial mine in Colombia. The bulk carrier, the Golden Incus, left Moneypoint at the start of this month after workers spent almost two weeks unloading it.

180,000 tonnes of coal can be carried on the Golden Incus which departed the Colombian port of Puerto Bolivar in the Guajira region where the Cerrejon coalmine is located in late July. The Cerrejon mine, one of the world’s largest, has long been the subject of complaints about environmental damage and human rights abuses, including the displacement of indigenous people. The mine’s owners have always rejected the allegations and stressed the employment opportunities it offers in one of Colombia’s poorest regions.

ESB has repeatedly defended its purchases from Cerrejon, saying it engages with the mine on various issues through its membership of Bettercoal, an industry group set up to promote improvements in mining practices for workers and their communities.

ESB had stopped sourcing coal from Cerrejon for a time, buying from Russia instead. “Russian coal accounted for almost all of the coal consumed in Moneypoint in 2021,” the company said. “Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spring 2022, ESB put in place alternative sources. Based on the availability of coal in the global marketplace at various points in time, ESB purchased coal from Australia, Colombia and South Africa for use at Moneypoint through 2022 and 2023. Moneypoint station requires a specific grade of coal and ESB has been assessing suitability of coal from various mines across the globe for future use at the plant”.

Related News

river graney
Flooding challenges in River Graney catchment hindering farmers use of their land
ennis toastmasters 18-11-23 organising committee 1
Ennis Toastmasters celebrate 50 years
cillian murphy gate
Rural areas avoiding Airbnb clampdown 'really flawed'
st flannans flood
Confidence expressed that Ennis is 'well protected from flooding' in wake of Midleton devastation
Latest News
old ground
Turn Black Friday green with Flynn Hotels
limerick greyhound race
€30,000 up for grabs In WillWeGo.com Irish St Leger Final at Limerick
image002 (1)
Deirdre Masterson and New York Tenors set for Christmas show at Dromoland Castle
Photo of Ennis’ Patritia Coote scoring taken by Helen McQuillan
Ennis RFC roundup: Senior women defeat UL Bohs
Official Opening of FASD by Anne Rabbitte Minister of State for Disability in the Dept of Health & Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth-6_10x8_Final Edit
Gort farmer charged with assault for throwing cow dung at Deputy Rabbitte
Premium
Official Opening of FASD by Anne Rabbitte Minister of State for Disability in the Dept of Health & Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth-6_10x8_Final Edit
Gort farmer charged with assault for throwing cow dung at Deputy Rabbitte
liam grant 2
Periodic speed limits outside schools in West & North Clare pushed
clonlara v kiladangan 19-11-23 aidan morairty cian colm o'meara 1
Clonlara gave it everything in Thurles & there's huge satisfaction in that'
sixmilebridge arena opening 27-10-23 joe cooney 1
'We're getting the brunt of it' - local reps frustrated by Oireachtas members on Broadford & Cooraclare
blake's corner bob singer
National support needed to progress improvements of North Clare road network for Walker Cup

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Scroll to Top
Enable Notifications for the latest news and updates OK No thanks