Emergency Power Station in Offaly still hasn't been called upon to supply power

THE Temporary Emergency Generation (TEG) Power Plant in Shannonbridge still hasn't been called upon to supply emergency power to avert potential blackouts across the State.
Construction work on the TEG started in early 2023 in the midst of the former West Offaly Power Station, which was built in 2005 for 240 million Euros and was shut down in December 2020, remaining empty since.
In April 2024 a public meeting in Shannonbridge Community Hall was told that locals' fears about possible sound pollution had been allayed when ESB officials showed them the sound barrier wall that had been constructed around the TEG. However, the meeting was also told that locals remained concerned about the possible adverse health affects of emissions from the TEG's chimneys. Since then those fears have abated. A local recently told The Midland Tribune that safety testing is carried out on a monthly basis on the Plant. “I believe,” he commented, “that small amounts of emissions have been released across the bog, but it is not a matter of concern. I've also been told that the Plant hasn't been called upon yet by the powers that be to supply an electricity supply to the National Grid during critical situations and emergencies.”
Last September the ESB placed an advert in local newspapers stating that the construction of the TEG had been completed and expressions of interest for funding were now being accepted from not-for-profit community and voluntary organisations, for projects which were within 5 kilometres of the TEG site.
The advert said the building project had been progressed by the ESB on behalf of EirGrid, and with support from the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (CRU), and the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE). “A Community Benefit Fund (CBF) has been established as part of the development with the aim of fostering interaction and engagement with communities living in close proximity to the project.” The Categories considered for funding included: Sports and Recreation, Health and Wellbeing, Environment and Conservation, Culture and Heritage, Education, Children, and Young People and the Elderly. The qualifying organisations included Registered Charities, Community Development Groups, Tidy Towns Committees, Sports and Recreation Clubs, Primary and Secondary Schools.
The TEG includes eight open-cycle gas turbine units, fuelled by diesel oil, which will have the capacity to generate some 264MW of temporary emergency electricity on 9.22 hectares within the West Offaly Power Station site. The Plant also includes eight 30-metre tall steel exhaust stacks and two 11kV generator step-up transformers.The emergency plant has a maximum running time of 500 hours per annum, and, in keeping with its “emergency” status, will operate only intermittently to meet emergency supply needs.
The former West Offaly Power Station is due to be demolished during 2026.

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