Helping to secure Ireland’s energy grid
Thanks to a recent agreement between ESB and GE Vernova, the site of a decommissioned Irish power plant will receive a second life as an emergency power generating station .
Overview
With Ireland’s energy supply in a state of transition combined with a growth in demand, it’s become necessary to include supplemental temporary generating capacity to ensure security of supply.
The challenge
During peak demand periods—such as the winter season—Ireland’s transitioning energy sector may require supplemental power generation capacity to maintain a consistent uninterrupted supply of electricity to consumers.
The solution
The Electricity Supply Board (ESB) of Ireland will work with GE Vernova to install and maintain multiple LM2500XPRESS* aeroderivative gas turbines at the Shannonbridge power plant in central Ireland. The plant is expected to operate as a temporary reserve plant during the 2023-2024 winter season and up through the end of the 2026-2027 winter season.
Outcomes
Reinforcing Ireland’s electricity supply
The Republic of Ireland’s electricity supply is in a state of transition. Aging facilities and demand for more carbon-neutral sources of energy have led to the closure of many traditional facilities. One of those plants was the 125 MWe Shannonbridge peat-fired power plant, which was shut down in 2020.
Nevertheless, as Ireland moves away from its traditional energy sources, it’s evident that supplemental short-term generation sources are needed to help prevent service disruptions—particularly during periods of high demand, like the winter season. Hence, the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland (ESB) signed an agreement with GE Vernova to supply and maintain a cadre of LM2500XPRESS aeroderivative gas generators at the site of the former Shannonbridge peat-fired plant.
Per an ESB statement: while the Shannonbridge Power Plant is intended to operate only “when existing market-based generation capacity has failed or is imminently likely to fail to meet the system requirements”, it will nonetheless benefit from a multi-year O&M agreement with GE Vernova that includes plant operation, repairs, and scheduled maintenance.
The plant will begin operations during the 2023-2024 winter season and last through the 2026-2027 winter season, with an option to extend operations through the 2027-2028 season. According to the same ESB statement, “At the point in time when enduring capacity has removed the need for temporary emergency generation, the plant will cease operation and will be removed from the site.”
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We’re proud to continue to work with ESB and to be bringing one of the best and most efficient aeroderivative packages and O&M services at the Shannonbridge Power Plant and contribute to the security of Ireland’s electricity supply.
Joseph Anis
President & CEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa at GE Vernova’s Gas Power business
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*Trademark of GE Vernova
