Lanesboro power station demolition ‘a reckless move’

Representatives of the communities of Lanesboro Ballyleague are fearful that the demolition of Lough Ree power plant will have a negative impact on the Shannon side town.

Last week An Bord Pleanála backed up a Longford County Council decision to grant planning permission for the demolition of the former Lough Ree power plant (LRP) and the construction of a battery energy storage facility on the site.
Last February local authority planners approved a battery energy storage facility on the site of the former LRP in Lanesboro. The planners granted permission subject to 15 conditions, but this was appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Chairperson of the Lanesboro Ballyleague Collaboration Group, Vincent McGowan, says the community are hopeful the ESB will engage with them on the plans, adding that the planning process is not completed: “There are still a number of days in which objections can be lodged,” he told the Leader.

In their assessment of the project An Bord Pleanála said the plans “would not unduly impact on the natural environment or amenities of the area, would align with national policy to transition to carbon neutral energy, would comply with the zoning objectives for the site”. There are 10 conditions attached to the State planning authorities approval.
For local people there is an emotional attachment to the power plant. The Shannon side facility provided employment, fed families, and stimulated the local economy in a double act with Bord na Móna.
“The station that has been here for the last 70 years is going to come down,” Mr McGowan was not optimistic about the economic impact of the decision, “Is it going to create four jobs? I doubt it. There will be no parties in the town for this, it's nothing compared to what was lost.”

Mr McGowan says the community in Lanesboro feel let down by ESB: “They initially said they wouldn't close the power plant until 2030, then they pulled the rug out from under our feet by saying it would close in 2020. That was without any consultation with parishes or towns. They are now demolishing it without any consultation with the local community.”
The Lanesboro Ballyleague Collaboration Group chairperson believes the demolition could be a bad move: “The infrastructure that is there should be used. That should be looked into, before it is dismantled. The danger is that everything will be taken down to the ground. We believe that the bottom part of the existing building could be used for a power hub.”

Mr McGowan says engagement with the community is lacking: “I would like the ESB to come down and meet with the local representatives. We had a think tank in the town two years ago when this was first mooted. I want them to discuss with us the possibility of using what is already there. Deputy Denis Naughten made a very good point at a public meeting here, he said the building belongs to the taxpayer, but the taxpayer hasn't been consulted in any way.
“They are just going to take it down, and good luck and goodbye. Consultation with the local people is needed. It's a two way street, ESB has been good to the town for 70 years and Lanesboro has been good to the ESB. The one thing we would have liked to see was the ESB top brass come down, meet us and put a few ideas on the table. At the moment they are just deciding what they are going to do, end of.”

Last year ESB signalled their intention to demolish the facility following the cessation of the generation of electricity at the ESB site in Lanesboro in December, 2020. The development consists of the demolition of the existing LRP station and the development and operation of “electricity grid services”. These services are a battery energy storage system (BESS) and a Synchronous Condenser (Sync Con). The development comprises the demolition and site reinstatement, followed by construction and operation of the new BESS and Sync Con.

A submission from members of Lanesboro District Concerned Citizens describe the demolition of the power station as an “unnecessary and is a reckless move”. Previously the ESB told the Leader of their ambitions for the site saying: “This includes plans to use cutting-edge technologies at the site to provide electricity grid services that will facilitate ever-more renewable electricity on Ireland’s grid and, in turn, help the country achieve its climate goals in the coming decades. The proposed technology includes synchronous condensers and battery energy storage capabilities.”

They say the site will help ESB deliver “a five-fold increase in renewable electricity generation by 2030 in line with its Net Zero by 2040 strategy”.