SSE has announced plans to develop a power station powered by sustainable biofuels in County Kerry, the first such facility in Ireland.
The Tarbert Next Generation Power Station, which will represent a €300 million investment, will run on 100% sustainable biofuels, with the potential to convert to hydrogen in due course.
The 300MW plant reflect’s SSE Thermal’s ‘commitment to supporting the electricity system in Ireland while laying the foundations for a low-carbon future’, the company noted.
It will largely utilise Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) sourced from 100% waste feedstocks, thereby aligning with the EU’s RED II sustainability standards.
Developing the facility
Planning consent was granted by An Bord Pleanála, Ireland’s planning authority, in October 2024, with enabling works currently underway ahead of full construction commencing later this year. The green energy project is scheduled for completion in late 2027.
SSE Thermal has partnered with Ansaldo Energia and Atlantic Projects Company (APC) on the development of the project.
The new facility will be located on the site of a former power plant at Tarbert, which closed in 2023 having been in operation since the late 1960s.
‘A landmark moment’
“This is a landmark moment for Tarbert, which has a proud history of energy generation dating back almost six decades,” commented Finlay McCutcheon, managing director of SSE Thermal. “In taking this final investment decision, we are underlining our commitment to delivering the next generation of power at the site, supporting Ireland’s electricity system and laying the foundations for a low-carbon future.”
McCutcheon added that the group’s focus now shifts to the timely construction of the new facility, “working closely with our partners at Ansaldo Energia and APC to deliver this vital project. At the same time, we hope to see the new Government in Ireland bring forward the enduring low-carbon solutions needed to support the country’s net zero goals.” Read more here.
