Longford County Council has been told it's unlikely that Lough Ree Power Station will be retained or used for energy alternatives after it closes next month.
Senior Manager with ESB Jim Murray gave a presentation overview to council members of what's been done in the past year, and what options are being explored for any further use of the site.
He began by telling the meeting of the complex ownership nature of the present site of Lough Ree Power in Lanesboro explaining that the site is owned by a number of groups including ESB Power Generation, ESB Networks, which is an independent entity, ESB Fisheries, Bord na Mona and Scottish and Southern Power.
He pointed to the fact that Eirgrid are developing a substation on the SSE land and described it as a significant opportunity for the future development of a renewable energy hub on the site.
With regard to the power station building itself, Mr Murray said the boiler is an integral part of the entire structure and in fact it's not a building with a boiler in it, but rather a boiler with a sheet cladding skin.
He said in other countries, the boiler isn't even covered by an outer layer, and the structures holding up the building in Lanesboro are actually part of the huge boiler.
He went on to describe the "circulating fluidized bed boiler" as being the only such one operated by Bord na Mona and which is specially designed for the burning of solid fuel only.
The ESB manager said the boiler presents a significant challenge for any future use, given its need to burn 800,000 tonnes of solid fuel per year and its 37% efficiency as opposed to 60% efficiency from gas power.
Members of the council were also told there is a review of assets being undertaken and they are exploring the sale of the assets to minimise the cost of remediating the site.
Mr Murray also said the notice for demolition of the power station had to be issued under their licence agreement and that the demolition work is expected to take the majority of the next two years.
He said ESB remains liable for the site and has an environmental licence to comply with until they had it back to the EPA in 2023.
Members of the council were also told that alternative options being looked at for the site by ESB were connections for wind, and solar generation, and battery storage units, because they would support and contribute to the concept of a renewable energy hub.
The fact that Eirgrid are developing the new substation right beside the site was again mentioned as a significant factor in the future decision making.
