When NIE was privatized in 1991, it moved to sell all of its power plants. Since then, the plant has burned mostly coal. When oil prices rose later in the decade, the decision was made to add dual-fuel capability, and the conversion was completed in 1989. Commercial operations began in 1981, with the second unit coming online the following year.
Originally intended as a four-unit, 1,200-MW oil-fired plant, it was scaled back to two units in the early 1980s as a result of government budget cuts. The Kilroot station began construction in 1974 as an asset of the state-run utility Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE). The third, the 400-MW Coolkeeragh combined cycle plant, is in the region’s west, near Derry/Londonderry. Kilroot, south of Ballylumford in Carrickfergus near Belfast, is the second-largest, with 520 MW of dual-fired coal and oil boilers and 140 MW of gas turbines. Gas-fired Ballylumford in County Antrim is the largest at 1,246 MW. Northern Ireland has three major power plants relying on a mix of fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the region’s aging conventional fleet is struggling to keep pace. In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation subsidy system has driven high installation rates for both on- and offshore wind, which has in turn driven a need for robust balancing services to integrate such high levels of intermittent generation. Both are well on their way toward meeting their targets, with renewables having reached about 20% of the mix in 2015. The Republic currently has about 2,400 MW of installed wind capacity, while Northern Ireland has about 600 MW. The large majority of this generation (roughly 37% of total demand) will come from wind, leveraging the region’s abundant wind resources. It serves about 2.5 million customers, slightly less than one-third in Northern Island and the remainder in the Republic.īoth Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have aggressive renewable energy targets, seeking to meet 40% of gross electricity demand from renewable energy by 2020. The SEM is a mandatory pool into which all electricity generated on or imported onto the island must be sold, and from which all wholesale electricity for consumption or export must be purchased. After several years of discussion and planning, the Single Electricity Market (SEM) was launched in November 2007. Along with greater economic and political integration following the peace process at the end of the 1990s, the System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI) and EirGrid, the state transmission operator for the Republic of Ireland, began work to develop a single integrated wholesale electricity market in 2004. The history of the electricity market on the island of Ireland in many ways mirrors the history of the island as a whole. One of the first big steps is installation of the largest battery storage system in the UK and Ireland. Making that happen while delivering safe, reliable electricity to customers across the island means a sea change in how the grid is operated. You would definitely want a handsome (i.e., skillful) boatman to make that crossing.The governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland have big ambitions for their unified electricity market, including a wind-heavy 40% renewable generation target by 2020. “Almost 80 miles of the turbulent North Irish Sea separate Carrickfergus from Ballygrant. Ballygrant is across the Irish Sea on Islay in Scotland.
There is no Ballygrant in Ireland either.Ī contributor known only as “Blade Thresher” on a Carrickfergus site explains much of the mystery. Why does the song abruptly switch to Kilkenny? Well, actually it doesn't. To strike that lonely road, down by the sea.”īut I'll sing no more now till I get a drink
Carrickfergus northern ireland free#
Soft is the grass and sure, my bed is free
“My childhood days bring back sweet reflections Here are the lyrics to "Carrickfergus" as most often sung:īut the sea is wide and I cannot swim over
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