ccording to Halpin, Ardnacrusha, when it provides intermittent electricity, powers 2pc of Ireland's current maximum requirements. And when it first started running all those years ago the station provided 96pc of Ireland's electricity requirements.
“We run depending on the lake levels in Lough Derg, as well as the predicted rainfall into the lake. We monitor the meteorological conditions daily.”
Ardnacrusha - second build
But what can Ireland take from Ardnacrusha now, especially as the Government looks to integrate more renewable into the electricity grid? In June, for instance, Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, met with the UK’s Energy Minister Charles Hendry, MP, in London, where the duo agreed to develop a formal memorandum of understanding (MoU) on renewable energy trading between the two countries.
Said Halpin: “The massive risk that was taken with Ardnacrusha is an example of breaking into new technologies and how you have to take a risk in order to break new ground.”
Right now, ESB has four main hydro stations in Ireland and Halpin argued that it is tapping into 70pc of the estimated available hydro resources in the country.
“Ardnacrusha has paid off and ESB would like to think of it as an example of how Ireland can harness its clean energy resources in the future, especially around wind, wave and tidal,” she said.