The management of Moneypoint Power Station says it’s the end of an era and the beginning of a new one as it celebrates a significant milestone.
Today marks the end of 40 years of coal-burning at the West Clare facility as it gears up to become one of the country’s largest renewable energy hubs.
Although the cessation of coal generation at Moneypoint was previously forecast for August, the station has found itself two months ahead of schedule.
Work began on the transition away from fossil fuels at the site in 2017 with the construction of a 17-megawatt onshore wind farm.
Four years later in 2021, ESB announced Green Atlantic at Moneypoint – a project which will utilise the existing deep water port and other infrastructure on-site to enable the facility to become one of Ireland’s largest renewable energy hubs.
This project got underway in 2022 with the arrival of a €50 million zero-carbon synchronous compensator which is the first of its kind in Ireland and allows the station to use increasing amounts of renewable electricity.
ESB Chief Executive Paddy Hayes says today’s development puts Moneypoint front-and-centre of Ireland’s renewable transition.
The progression of the plans for the station’s future is being said to offer security to the many workers and families currently supported by it in West Clare and beyond.
Tulla-based Fianna Fáil Minister of State Timmy Dooley believes it’s an “all-round positive story”.
As onshore and offshore wind increasingly become Moneypoint’s focus, the station is acting as a backup generator to the national electricity grid, offering stability in times of capacity shortage.
Moneypoint Station Manager Stevie O’Mahoney claims the same people who’ve made the facility what it is will be drive its future success.
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