Reports related to this article:
Project(s): View 1 related project in PECWeb
Plant(s): View 1 related plant in PECWeb
Released October 18, 2021 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Tynagh Energy, operator of a 400-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in Galway in the west of Ireland, has plans to spend 100 million euro (US$116 million) to construct a new plant.
The company said that the new 299-MW peaking power plant will be constructed near the existing plant in Loughrea, Galway, and will be designed to supply back-up power to the national grid when there is a drop in output from renewable energy. A planning application is expected to be lodged in the coming month.
The news comes at a time when Ireland's electricity supply is under increasing pressure. The country's grid operator, EirGrid, warned that it will "experience electricity supply challenges" over the coming years as demand increases and older power plants close. In its recent Generation Capacity Statement (GCS) report which covers the coming decade, it noted that the recent withdrawal of previously procured generation, and a recent auction which did not clear the desired amount of electricity capacity, means that if no action is taken, "there is the potential for a shortfall in Ireland over the next five winters."
Mark Foley, EirGrid chief executive, said: "We expect system alerts to be a feature of the system over the coming winters, and this winter is likely to be challenging. It is clear from the report that a new, cleaner gas-fired generation plant is required now to address this issue, especially for when wind and solar generation is low. Appropriate volumes of dispatchable flexible gas generation are critical to support the transition to a low-carbon power system into the next decade, as we move to 70% renewables by 2030 and, ultimately, a zero-carbon power system."
EirGrid predicts that over the course of the next five years around 1,650 MW of generation will retire in Ireland, with up to a further 600 MW retiring in Northern Ireland. At the same time, the demands on the system from large energy users--especially data centres--is rocketing and expected to account for 27% of all power by 2030.
Foley added: "There is a clear plan in place to secure electricity supplies in the short to medium term by retaining existing generating plant coupled with the deployment of temporary generation as required. It is very important that the market gets a clear signal that new clean gas generation has a key role to play in the all-island power system over the next decade and beyond, and that market participants can feel confident to invest and participate in the market."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
The company said that the new 299-MW peaking power plant will be constructed near the existing plant in Loughrea, Galway, and will be designed to supply back-up power to the national grid when there is a drop in output from renewable energy. A planning application is expected to be lodged in the coming month.
The news comes at a time when Ireland's electricity supply is under increasing pressure. The country's grid operator, EirGrid, warned that it will "experience electricity supply challenges" over the coming years as demand increases and older power plants close. In its recent Generation Capacity Statement (GCS) report which covers the coming decade, it noted that the recent withdrawal of previously procured generation, and a recent auction which did not clear the desired amount of electricity capacity, means that if no action is taken, "there is the potential for a shortfall in Ireland over the next five winters."
Mark Foley, EirGrid chief executive, said: "We expect system alerts to be a feature of the system over the coming winters, and this winter is likely to be challenging. It is clear from the report that a new, cleaner gas-fired generation plant is required now to address this issue, especially for when wind and solar generation is low. Appropriate volumes of dispatchable flexible gas generation are critical to support the transition to a low-carbon power system into the next decade, as we move to 70% renewables by 2030 and, ultimately, a zero-carbon power system."
EirGrid predicts that over the course of the next five years around 1,650 MW of generation will retire in Ireland, with up to a further 600 MW retiring in Northern Ireland. At the same time, the demands on the system from large energy users--especially data centres--is rocketing and expected to account for 27% of all power by 2030.
Foley added: "There is a clear plan in place to secure electricity supplies in the short to medium term by retaining existing generating plant coupled with the deployment of temporary generation as required. It is very important that the market gets a clear signal that new clean gas generation has a key role to play in the all-island power system over the next decade and beyond, and that market participants can feel confident to invest and participate in the market."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn.
