Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Carrigy for raising this matter, which is very timely.

The management of the ESB-owned facilities is an operational matter for the board and management of the ESB. The ESB ceased electricity generation at Shannonbridge and Lanesborough power stations in December 2020 because their planning permission had expired. The just transition commissioner made a recommendation in his first progress report published in May 2020 that a study be undertaken regarding the future potential at both ESB power stations for the establishment of a dedicated energy hub in the midlands. This was subsequently included as a commitment in the programme for Government.

The ESB has been participating in a number of working groups established under the just transition programme which looked at the future of the midlands area following the closure of the ESB midlands stations and the ending of the harvesting of peat by Bord na Móna. One of the working groups, which included representatives of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, relevant local authorities and the just transition commissioner, looked specifically at how the existing infrastructure on the station sites might form part of a future renewable energy hub. To that end, the ESB commissioned an internal engineering report to examine how the power plants might be reused in the future. The options reviewed included the possibility of using other types of fuel. The report was subsequently reviewed by Fichtner, an external international consultancy firm with acknowledged expertise in these areas. These reports have not identified any viable alternative use for the existing power plants. However, based on the recommendations and the conclusions drawn from the review, the ESB decided to seek planning permission for both remediation and redevelopment works at both sites which would involve the construction of electrical grid systems support technology hubs that can facilitate greater levels of renewable energy generation at the grid, in line with ESB's Brighter Future strategy.

In terms of securing our electricity supplies for the coming winter, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, currently has a programme of actions under way to ensure the security of our electricity supply over the coming winters. The security of supply programme of actions contains a number of both demand-side and supply-side mitigation measures to address the forecasted shortfall. These actions include: procurement of new enduring capacity through a number of capacity options; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generators; additional use of grid scale batteries; and improved demand-side measures.