ESB gets green light for €250m power plant
ESB spokesman Kevin McDermott said the power generated by the facility at Aghada would represent about one-twelfth of that produced by the national grid. The power station, which will be built next to the existing facility, will employ about 40 people.
Planning permission was granted by Cork County Council, and the ESB is examining tenders.
“We hope to start construction within a year and it will take between two to three years to complete,” Mr McDermott said.
The decision to build a 400 megawatt output station was taken because of the huge increase in demand in Cork.
“Demand in Ireland grew by nearly 60% in the last decade, which is well ahead of the European average. Last year we connected a record 77,000 new homes. This year it looks as if that figure will reach 90,000,” Mr McDermott said.
The ESB operates a 540 megawatt power station at Aghada, where 83 staff are employed. The existing plant at Aghada is licensed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is considering an application for a revised licence for the new plant.
“Offers have been received from a number of suppliers for the turnkey construction of this plant and the process of assessing these is ongoing. As this development progresses, further permissions will be sought as required,” Mr McDermott said.
Meanwhile, he added that despite reaching a compromise with objectors to a project to build pylons across Cork’s lower harbour, the ESB didn’t know yet when it would get to planning stage.
Anti-pylon activists fought a 10-year battle to prevent more than 80 pylons being built between Rafeen and Aghada.
A compromise was reached earlier this year when the ESB agreed to duct much of the cabling underground.
Residents’ groups said they were concerned about possible health implications from the pylons.
“There is no definite time frame for starting this project,” Mr McDermott said.
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