The Anonymous Widower

SSE Thermal Secures 10-year Contracts For Two New Low-Carbon Power Stations In Ireland

The title of this post, is the same as that of this press release from SSE.

These first two paragraphs outline the two projects.

SSE Thermal, as part of SSE plc, has provisionally secured 10-year capacity agreements for its two proposed new-build power stations in Ireland which would run on sustainable biofuel.

The proposed low-carbon units at Tarbert in Co. Kerry and Platin in Co. Meath received the contracts in the T-4 Capacity Auction to commence in the 2026/27 delivery year.

Note.

1. Both plants would help to protect security of supply and provide flexible backup to Ireland’s growing renewables sector.
2. This Wikipedia entry is entitled Renewable Entry In Ireland and states that by the end of 2021, Ireland had 4.4 GW of onshore wind, with the intention of adding 5 GW of offshore wind, by 2030.
3. The proposed units will initially run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (or HVO), which is produced by processing waste oils to create a fossil-free alternative to diesel in accordance with EU sustainability standards.
4. It looks like the two new-build HVO-powered station will back up the renewables.
5. It is intended that the two new power stations will be in operation in 2026.

The two new power stations will be convertible to hydrogen in the future.

As at Keadby in Lincolnshire, which I wrote about in SSE Thermal Charts Path To Green Hydrogen Future With First-Of-A-Kind Project. it looks like SSE have developed a comprehensive plan to keep the electricity at full power, even when the wind isn’t blowing.

Conclusion

SSE Thermal are showing that in addition to gas, nuclear and pumped storage hydroelectric, renewables can also be backed up by biomass.

April 5, 2023 - Posted by AnonW | Energy, Hydrogen | Biomass, HVO-Fired Power Station, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Ireland, Keadby Hydrogen Power Station, Keadby Power Stations, Platin Power Station, SSE Thermal, Tarbert Power Station