Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has carried out an assessment of electricity requirements up to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4404/00]
Vol. 514 No. 3
117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has carried out an assessment of electricity requirements up to 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4404/00]
118 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number, location and capacity of operating and proposed electricity generating stations; the extent to which the national requirement is being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 118 together.
Economic growth in recent years has been reflected in record levels of growth in demand for electricity by all sectors of the economy, averaging around 6% per annum in recent years.
In general, the current and foreseeable levels of growth in demand for electricity will require the provision of between 150MW and 200MW of additional capacity each year for the foreseeable future, by means of new plant or imports over the interconnector.
The ESB, in consultation with my Department, published a report in October 1998 on "Generation Capacity Requirements to 2005" for the information of the industry. This was done having regard to the imminent opening of the market to competition under EU provisions. An update of this report is being prepared by ESB at the request of the Commission for Electricity Regulation in response to the requirement of section 38 of the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
I am informed that growth in demand for electricity is being managed competently by the ESB. I have received a categoric assurance from the chairman of ESB that there will be no shortages in electricity supply this winter or during winter 2000-spring 2001.
The ESB has recently commissioned the third unit, 160MW of its plant at Poolbeg and the new 120MW peat fired plant at Edenderry will be coming on stream in December of this year.
It is accepted that a major tranche of additional capacity will be required two years from now, that is, for winter 2001-spring 2002. In that regard, the ESB and the independent power consortium Viridian-CRH recently received planning permission for two large new gas fired generation plants, of 400 and 600MW respectively, at Ringsend and Huntstown, north County Dublin.
Name |
Type |
Capacity |
Moneypoint |
Coal |
915MW |
Tarbert |
Oil |
632MW |
Great Island |
Oil |
240MW |
Aghada |
Gas/Oil |
540MW |
Poolbeg |
Gas/Oil |
980MW |
North Wall |
Gas/Oil |
267MW |
Marina |
Gas |
115MW |
Shannonbridge |
Milled Peat |
125MW |
Ferbane |
Milled Peat |
30MW |
Lanesboro |
Milled Peat |
85MW |
Rhode |
Milled Peat |
40MW |
Bellacorick |
Milled Peat |
40MW |
Cahirciveen |
Sod Peat |
5MW |
Turlough Hill |
Pump Storage |
292MW |
Liffey/Poulaphouca |
Hydro |
38MW |
Ardnacrusha |
Hydro |
86MW |
Erne |
Hydro |
65MW |
Clady |
Hydro |
4MW |
Lee/Inniscarra |
Hydro |
27MW |