Kilroot power station
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Kilroot power station is an operating power station of at least 144-megawatts (MW) in Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom with multiple units, some of which are not currently operating.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Kilroot power station | Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom | 54.724522, -5.767263 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2: 54.724522, -5.767263
- Unit GT1, Unit GT2, Unit GT3, Unit GT4, Unit GT5, Unit GT6: 54.725, -5.767
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | CHP | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | retired[1] | coal - anthracite | 283 | subcritical | – | 1981 | 2023[1] |
| Unit 2 | retired[1] | coal - anthracite | 283 | subcritical | – | 1981 | 2023[1] |
| Unit GT1 | operating[2] | gas[3] | 30[2] | gas turbine[4] | not found | 2009[4] | – |
| Unit GT2 | operating[2] | gas[3] | 30[2] | gas turbine[4] | not found | 2009[4] | – |
| Unit GT3 | operating[2] | gas[3] | 42[2] | gas turbine[4] | not found | 2009[4] | – |
| Unit GT4 | operating[2] | gas[3] | 42[2] | gas turbine[4] | not found | 2009[4] | – |
| Unit GT5 | shelved[5] | gas[6] | 340[5] | gas turbine[6] | not found | – | – |
| Unit GT6 | shelved[5] | gas[6] | 340[5] | gas turbine[6] | not found | – | – |
CHP is an abbreviation for Combined Heat and Power. It is a technology that produces electricity and thermal energy at high efficiencies. Coal units track this information in the Captive Use section when known.
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | EP UK Investments Ltd (EPUKI) [100.0%] | – |
| Unit 2 | EP UK Investments Ltd (EPUKI) [100.0%] | – |
| Unit GT1 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
| Unit GT2 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
| Unit GT3 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
| Unit GT4 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
| Unit GT5 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
| Unit GT6 | EP UK Investments Ltd[7] | Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH) [100.0%] |
Background
The power station was first commissioned in 1981.[8] However, AES bought the power station in 1992 when the publicly owned power station was privatised.
The station was originally designed to use four 300 megawatt (MW) generating units. However, due to government spending restrictions in the early 1980s the project was truncated to two 260 MW units. The station opened on 1 February 1981, when the first of the two generating unit went into operation. The plant was completed in 1981.[9] [10] The power station was originally fueled by only oil, as it was the lowest cost fuel at the time. But following a change in generating policies in Northern Ireland in 1985 following the increase in oil prices, it was decided the plant would be converted burn coal as well as oil. This conversion took place between 1986 and 1989, and the subcritical plant has burned almost exclusively only coal ever since.[9]
Two days before Christmas in 2005, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Industry granted AES permission to install flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) equipment at the station. This was to help the station meet the European Union Large Combustion Plant Directive by January 2008. AES's plan to install the pollution control equipment was opposed by environmental groups and the Northern Ireland energy regulator. The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation argued that the Kilroot plant was a "relatively inefficient and dirty power station." Following the decision the authority expressed "regret" that "that Government, firstly as a result of the original botched privatisation of electricity in Northern Ireland and secondly, through what must be viewed as an inadequate planning and consent framework, is unable to prevent an outcome which is clearly contrary to its wider energy and environmental policy objectives." It also stated that "firmly opposed to the cost of the FGD extension being passed through to customers."[11]
In 2018, Kilroot lost out in a capacity auction process to supply the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM).[12]
In April 2019 AES Corporation agreed to sell Kilroot to EP UK Investments, a subsidiary of Energetický a průmyslový holding (EPH).[13][14]
In May 2020, the plant won a power auction to supply electricity from gas power from 2023/2024. The coal plant will close.[15][16] Kilroot was facing closure by 2024 as the coal-burning technology would not meet environmental standards.[12] The coal units are expected to close in 2023.[17]
In 2021 EPH continued planning for a conversion of the plant from coal to gas.
In late September 2023, the two coal units at Kilroot power station shut down,[18] leaving Ratcliffe power station as the only remaining coal plant operating in the UK.
Power Purchase Agreement
From the time of privatization in 1992, AES had a Power Purchase Agreement with NIE Energy Limited, the owner of the Northern Island electricity distribution network. However, the PPA for power from AES's Kilroot power station was terminated in November 2010.[19] In its 2011 annual report AES stated that "as a result, the performance (and contributions to income and cash flow) from Kilroot will decline in the future when compared to prior years. Furthermore, these businesses (and any other businesses whose long-term contracts may be challenged) may have to sell electricity into the spot markets."[20]
Elsewhere in its its annual report AES noted that it had "lower revenue of $46 million at Kilroot, in Northern Ireland, primarily resulting from the cancellation of the long-term PPA and supplementary agreements in November 2010." AES also noted that the plant had recorded a "lower capacity factor due to a decline in market demand."[21]
Gas Plant Conversion
After receiving the T-4 auction results in 2020, EPH unveiled their plans for the new "Kilroot Energy Park". They were awarded 390 MW of new gas-fired capacity.[22] However, they have also proposed diversified plans for the site including hydrogen, solar, and battery storage to reach a total capacity of 440 MW.[23] The initial gas plant will consist of an existing open-cycle gas turbine changing from distillate to natural gas fuel, dependent on the completion of a gas pipeline to the site. Later, the coal units will be replaced.[24]
In 2021 the gas pipeline plans were approved, connecting the future plant to Belfast Transmission gas pipeline.[17]
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20240125083440/https://www.irishnews.com/business/2023/09/29/news/it_s_all_over_for_coal_as_kilroot_goes_green-3654815/. Archived from the original on 25 January 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709034642/https://www.eppowereurope.cz/en/companies/ep-kilroot/. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709035736/https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/data-center-proposed-for-kilroot-power-station-northern-ireland/. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709021408/https://www.powermag.com/kilroot-power-station-carrickfergus-northern-ireland-uk/. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709023024/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/kilroot-power-station-owner-wins-major-supply-contracts-39184052.html. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 https://web.archive.org/web/20220709031135/https://kilrootenergypark.co.uk/our-initiatives/new-flexible-generation. Archived from the original on 09 July 2022.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|archive-date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 https://web.archive.org/web/20221229013244/https://www.epholding.cz/en/press-releases/eph-to-buy-kilroot-and-ballylumford-power-stations-from-aes/. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ Department of Energy and Climate Change, "Power stations in the United Kingdom, May 2012", Department of Energy and Climate Change, May 2012. (This link is to an Excel spreadsheet).
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Generating success", Modern Utility Management, June 10, 2010.
- ↑ Renewable Energy Association, "Kilroot Power Station", Renewable Energy Association website, archived page from July 2011.
- ↑ Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation, "The Northern Ireland Authority for Energy Regulation (NIAER) expresses its dismay re Government decision", Media Release, December 23, 2005.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Campbell, John (May 6, 2020). "Kilroot to become gas-fired power station". BBC News. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
- ↑ "EPH to buy Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations from AES". Energetický a průmyslový holding. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- ↑ Campbell, John (2019-04-24). "Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations sold to Czech firm". Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- ↑ "UK expected to use coal for power in winter". 6 May 2020.
- ↑ "Kilroot power station owner wins major supply contracts".
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Green light for new gas pipeline to supply Kilroot Power Staton, Carrick Times, Mar 5, 2021
- ↑ "It's all over for coal as Kilroot goes green," The Irish News, September 29, 2023
- ↑ AES, 2011 Annual Report, AES Corporation, March 2012, page 57.
- ↑ AES, 2011 Annual Report, AES Corporation, March 2012, page 89.
- ↑ AES, 2011 Annual Report, AES Corporation, March 2012, page 139.
- ↑ Company Update: Kilroot Energy Park Vision Unveiled, EP UK Investments, Jul 10, 2020
- ↑ Kilroot Energy Park, EP UK Investments, accessed Apr 15, 2021
- ↑ New Flexible Generation, EP UK Investments, accessed Apr 15, 2021
Additional data
To access additional data, including interactive maps of the power stations, downloadable datases, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker and the Global Oil and Gas Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
