Firm to tap into earth for energy

IRELAND may soon be harnessing the power of the earth to fuel our energy needs after a planning application was lodged for the country’s first geothermal electricity plant.

The power plant is planned to be erected in Newcastle, south Co Dublin, by GT Energy.

It is envisaged the plant will generate up to 4MW of electricity using geothermal energy – an output capable of supplying electricity to the equivalent of 8,000 three-bed homes.

Geothermal energy is power extracted from heat stored in the earth.

The site was targeted on foot of information produced by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which identified the Blackrock-to-Newcastle geological fault line as a potential access area for deep geothermal heat resources.

GT Energy managing director Padraig Hanly said: “This plant represents a historic milestone, both for Ireland as it will be the first facility of its kind and as it will bring on-stream a new renewable energy source, which can contribute significantly to Ireland’s Renewable Action Plan and energy targets.”

It is hoped that a significant number of geothermal energy projects across Ireland can be developed.

Mr Hanly said this would not only have considerable environmental benefits for Ireland but also create a significant new industry.

Minister for Natural Resources Conor Lenihan recently confirmed that the Government is drafting a Geothermal Energy Development Bill, which will allow licensing of companies to explore and develop deep geothermal energy resources.

“I believe geothermal energy holds significant potential for Ireland and could develop into a new and exciting sector... I, and the Government, are fully committed to facilitating the dynamic progression of this exciting technology in the future,” he said.

In Germany the geothermal industry is worth in excess of €4 billion and more than 150 geothermal projects are in development.

The first phases of the Dublin plant’s construction will involve the drilling and testing of the required wells followed by the design and construction of the power plant. Subject to the required planning, licensing, and legislation being in place, drilling of the wells will commence in early 2011 and the plant is scheduled to be operational and connected to the national grid in late 2012.

Mr Hanly said the estimated construction cost of the facility is €30m: “This initial plant is essentially a research and development project and will therefore require higher capital investment than future facilities.”