Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the feasibility study into the establishment of a green energy hub or renewable energy hub in the midlands using the existing infrastructure in this region. [9339/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Just Transition Commissioner recommended in his first progress report, published in May 2020, that a study be undertaken in relation to the future potential of the ESB power stations at both Lanesborough (Lough Ree Power) and Shannonbridge (West Offaly Power) 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 these groups, which included the Just Transition Commissioner and Offaly and Longford County Councils,  looked specifically at how the existing infrastructure on the ESB station sites might form a part of a future renewable energy hub. ESB announced the outcome of this process on 18 June 2021, confirming that:

- having considered commercial opportunities within the electricity market as well as national energy and climate action policies, no viable solution was found to repurpose the existing plants;

- the company will, therefore, demolish the existing plants in line with the planning obligations for the stations;

- the company is exploring how other buildings on the sites could be handed over for use by community groups;

- ESB is currently developing planning applications for both station sites as renewable energy centres, in anticipation of future competitive tenders to be held by EirGrid and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities  (CRU). The proposed technology includes synchronous condensers and energy storage capabilities at both  locations. Detailed environmental assessments will be carried out in support of those applications; and

- should these applications be successful, the ESB’s plans would then enable the company to successfully develop these sites within the appropriate regulatory, environmental and planning timelines.

It should be noted that he management of ESB-owned facilities is an operational matter for the Board and management of the ESB.