The 915MW Moneypoint coal-fired power station is the last coal generation site in Ireland. The country is set to eliminate coal as a power source all together with the announcement that it will close and replace this site with a new green energy hub.
According to the Electricity Supply Board (ESB), the new €50m Sustainable System Support facility will include offshore wind production, hydrogen power storage, and the world’s largest synchronous compensator, which adjusts conditions on the electric power grid to optimize renewable energy generation and distribution.
Ireland has partnered with Norwegian power company Equinor to generate 1.4GW of offshore wind power, using a floating hub to boost production without interfering with marine ecosystems.
The project is in line with the country’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It will also generate a substantial number of jobs in Ireland’s midwest region.
This green energy transition was praised on Twitter by environmentalist Bill McKibben. Pat O’Doherty, ESB Chief Executive said in a statement, “We have long signaled our intention to cease burning coal at Moneypoint. Today we are unveiling plans for a reimagined Moneypoint, which will not only create hundreds of jobs but will also help Ireland to meet its climate targets and maintain secure supplies of electricity into the future.”
