Huge gas-fired power station planned for Offaly
Bord na Móna is moving forward with plans for the development of a major new gas-fired power plant on a 22.8 hectare site at Derrygreenagh, near Rhode.
The project would include the construction of an underground gas pipeline to supply the plant, which would be located on former peat-farming lands between Rhode and Rochfortbridge, on the Offaly side of the border with Westmeath.
In the Dáil last week, Offaly TD Barry Cowen said he "welcomed the 650MW gas plant at Derrygreenagh".
To give context to that figure, a generating capacity of 650MW at the proposed Derrygreenagh plant would be more than double the combined output of the former peat-fired power plants at Shannonbridge and Lanesboro.
Bord na Móna is currently in the process of hiring a specialist contractor to carry out site investigation works related to the proposed plant, which would be spread across the Derrygreenagh group of bogs in the North of the county, including the Derryhinch, Drumman, Derryarkin and Ballybeg bogs.
According to tender documents, the company is hoping to have a contractor in place before the end of March to begin carrying out the site investigation works.
Bord na Móna Powergen Limited has also recently submitted a request to An Bord Pleanála for a 'pre-application consultation' on the development.
The pre-application consultation was lodged with An Bord Pleanála on Friday last, February 24, and it states that the proposed plant would comprise of a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine unit and an Open Cycle Gas Turbine unit.
Tendering documents from Bord na Móna do not outline the proposed route of the gas pipeline to the plant, saying the location for it will be provided "as and when available".
The documents also state that "electrical grid connection works" are being proposed on "a combination of land owned by Bord na Móna and privately owned farmland".
The R400 road “intersects the planned development site for the plant,” which consists of a 17.5 hectare area on the east side of the R400, and a 5.3 hectare area on the west side of the R400, the company said.
“The two areas combine to a 22.8 hectare site. The main power plant installation is planned for the 17.5 ha area (the Main Site). The 5.3 ha area will accommodate a 220 kV substation.”
Bord na Móna added that its site at Derrygreenagh “was used previously as a base for peat harvesting operations and has had an office, stores, workshop complex and hardstanding areas in situ since the 1950s.”
It said “the existing activities” there “will be relocated to another Bord na Móna premises prior to the development of the plant on the site”.
The State company’s future plans were discussed in the Dáil last week, with Deputy Cowen outlining some of its large-scale projects on the horizon in Offaly.
“I note the commitment of Bord na Móna to Edenderry Power to ensure that its role is continued by virtue of a €90 million investment,” said the local TD.
“I welcome the 650 MW gas plant at Derrygreenagh. I am closely monitoring progress on the proposed energy park encompassing 3,000 ha of land in counties Offaly, Westmeath and Meath, where zero-carbon energy generation assets will locate with industrial-scale, high-demand energy users, such as data centres and storage facilities.
“I am aware of the impending cessation of operations at the briquette factory in Derrinlough, which is the last original core activity. I am conscious of the ongoing talks between management and unions to ensure relocation and training options are agreed,” the Fianna Fáil Deputy stated.