Ireland may have bigger problem in long run because of heavy reliance on gas for power generation
The decision to retain Moneypoint until 2029, while changing to oil use, means the State-owned utility is obliged to make the plant available if grid operator EirGrid needs it.
That transition, inevitably, will be slowed as it has to retain a large facility using fossil fuels – and, potentially, it could be perceived as undermining its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.The ESB, for its part, hopes Moneypoint is “the generator of last resort” and insists reaching net zero by 2040 remains the target.
Oil-fired generation was almost eliminated after 2011, but its use has increased since 2021. Moneypoint using oil would add another 14 per cent to the fuel’s share in power generation, according to Friends of the Earth . The Government last year reduced from the maximum proposed sectoral emissions cut for electricity from 81 per cent to 75 per cent due to the increased use of Moneypoint in the face of a power supply crisis driven by escalating demand.
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