Green Atlantic at Moneypoint
ESB has set an ambitious and bold course of action to help Ireland achieve climate action targets and transition the country to reliable, affordable, net zero energy. Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint is a multi-billion Euro programme of significant investments on the County Clare site over the next decade.
Renewable enablement
ESB has completed stage one of transforming Moneypoint into a green energy hub with the construction of the €50m Sustainable System Support facility in Q4 2022. This Synchronous Compensator is the largest of its kind in the world, providing a range of electrical services to the electricity grid which would previously have been supplied by thermal fired power stations. Its operation will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system. More information here.
Moneypoint Floating Offshore wind farm
A floating offshore wind farm of 1,400MW will be developed off the coast of Counties Clare and Kerry in two phases by ESB. Once complete, the wind farm will be capable of powering more than 1.6m homes in Ireland. Subject to the appropriate consents being granted, the wind farm is expected to be in production within the next decade.
A wind turbine construction hub
Moneypoint will become a centre for the construction and assembly of floating wind turbines. A deep-water port already exists at the site, making it an ideal staging ground for the construction of the wind farm. It is expected this will generate a significant number of direct jobs in the Mid-West region. In the longer term, the development of Moneypoint will support wider plans of Shannon Foynes port, and working with local stakeholders, help make the Shannon Estuary a focal point for the offshore wind industry in Europe.
Hydrogen Energy
ESB’s plans include investment in a green hydrogen production, storage and generation facility at Moneypoint towards the end of the decade. A clean, zero-carbon fuel, green hydrogen will be produced from renewable energy and used for power generation, heavy goods vehicles in the transport sector and to help decarbonise a wide range of industries such as pharmaceuticals, electronics and cement manufacturing.