More than 100 jobs are expected to go by October at Moneypoint Power Station in West Clare.
The ESB has briefed staff there today on its plans for the future of the plant, which is to cease its current coal burning operations by 2025.
It’s understood staff were told in a meeting with ESB management today that the number of workers will be reduced to just 86, though this has not been confirmed by the company.
The plant, near Kilrush, has been a major employer in the area since 1985.
ESB Statement
Since its commissioning in 1985, Moneypoint Power Station has played a key role in supporting the national economy through the delivery of secure, reliable and affordable power. However, in recent years Moneypoint has been operating in an increasingly competitive energy market, actively competing to sell power and competing in auctions to acquire capacity contracts for the plant.
In addition, the growing volume of renewables in the market and the impact of carbon prices on the price of Moneypoint output, has meant that Moneypoint is now running far less than previously and given these market fundamentals, a low running regime is likely to persist into the future. The impact of these factors is that Moneypoint’s income has been significantly reduced.
Consequently, ESB needs to realign Moneypoint’s operation and resources with the new lower running regime. Local station management briefed staff and their union representatives today on these challenges and set out proposals for a reconfigured option for running Moneypoint. The consultation now in train will focus on the staffing levels required for the lower running regime, including discussions on how this can be achieved.
As part of our Brighter Future strategy, ESB is committed to moving to 40 per cent renewable generation by 2030. This will reduce the carbon intensity of our electricity generation by more than two-thirds. ESB will cease all generation from coal in Moneypoint no later than 2025.
ESB is committed to engaging and communicating with stakeholders on the immediate and longer-term challenges arising from both the competitive environment and the planned move away from coal generation post 2025. ESB is currently examining technology options for Moneypoint beyond 2025 that will deliver large-scale electricity generation, fuel diversity and security of supply. The development of replacement generation for Moneypoint, however, is contingent on a project winning an open auction for a capacity contract and on being commercially viable.
Proposals to properly address all aspects of Moneypoint’s lower running regime and to protect its viability in the period to 2025, will take time to develop and finalise. ESB is very aware of the uncertainty this creates for all our staff and ESB is committed to supporting them through this process.
We will not comment on the detail of this until we have worked it through with staff and their Union representatives in Moneypoint.
