Endesa, Spain’s leading utilities company, has been granted planning permission by An Bord Pleanala to commence work on the first phase of a new 450 megawatts combined-cycle gas turbine power plant at the former ESB station at Tarbert in County Kerry. The new facility will be constructed in two phases over four years.
The first phase, which is due to be operational by the end of 2012, is expected to generate more than 300 construction jobs. Phase two is scheduled to start in 2014. The old power plant at Tarbert, which was established in the 1960s will be demolished.
Phase one will involve the construction of a 305 MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) which will be fired on natural gas. Three of the four existing HFO Fired Units will be decommissioned once the OCGT is commissioned.
Phase two will commence commercial operation in 2016. This entails the conversion of the Open Cycle Gas Turbine to a Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT). This will increase the plant output from 305 to 450MW. The final fourth existing HFO Fired Unit will be decommissioned once the CCGT is commissioned.
Endesa Ireland was established as an operating company on 8th January 2009, following Endesa’s acquisition of certain generation assets from ESB. The assets purchased comprise 1,068 MW divided up between four sites – Tarbert, Great Island in Wexford, Rhode in Offaly and Tawnaghmore in Mayo.
In addition to being the leader within the Spanish electricity system, Endesa is the number one private electricity company in Latin America. It is a significant player in the energy sector of the European Mediterranean region. It also has a growing presence in the Spanish natural gas market and is advancing rapidly in the area of renewable energy.