tarboat's photos with the keyword: peat

Old and new peat fired power stations of the Irish Electricity Supply Board at Shannonbridge on the River Shannon. The old Shannonbridge plant at the right was closed after an accident in February 2004 when a high-pressure pipe at the plant exploded. The plant was already to be decommissioned as part of the planned closure of all six peat-fuelled stations in the country at that time. It was demolished in 2009. The station used three generating units to produce electricity, each with its own boiler, turbine and generator. Units 1 and 2 were commissioned in 1965 and 1976 respectively, each with a capacity of 40MW, while a more modern unit 3 was commissioned in 1982 at a capacity of 45MW. Subsequently in 2004 the new 150 megawatt West Offaly station at the left was opened and this was supplied with around 1 million tons of peat annually by Bord na Mona. On 11 December 2020 the station ceased all power production after permission to continue burning peat was refused. This plant housed a single boiler/turbine unit with an electrical output of 135 MW. A hybrid 97 MW / 170 MWh synchronous condenser / battery storage power station grid stability plant started construction at the site in 2022, expected to complete by 2024 a cost of €130 million.

The 150 megawatt West Offaly power station was supplied each year with around 1 million tons of peat from the bogs in the region around Shannonbridge. Adjacent to the power station the narrow gauge railway that brought in the peat crossed the River Shannon on this viaduct. The train is heading away from the power station and back to the bogs for another load. All this has ended with the closure of the power station on December 11, 2020 after permission to continue burning peat was refused.

The 150 megawatt West Offaly power station was supplied each year with around 1 million tons of peat from the bogs in the region around Shannonbridge. Adjacent to the power station the narrow gauge railway that brought in the peat crossed the River Shannon on this viaduct. The train is heading away from the power station and back to the bogs for another load. All this has ended with the closure of the power station on December 11, 2020 after permission to continue burning peat was refused.

Bord na mona Blackwater bog railtour. In July 2008 we arrived in Shannonbridge by boat and tied up on the wharf on a Saturday evening. Having heard about the bog railway tours we wandered into the village to enquire about whether the trains were running on Sunday morning. Entering the crowded Killeen's bar I spotted a couple having a quiet drink sat at the counter of the grocer's shop that formed part of the establishment. As they looked local I approached them and asked if they knew whether the train was running on the next day. The woman laughed for a minute and then told me that we had chosen the right people to ask as her husband was the driver! Needless to say we were given a great trip around the bog in the morning. Something I shall never forget. That was the last year that these tours operated.

Old and new peat fired power stations of the Irish Electricity Supply Board at Shannonbridge. The old plant on the left was closed after an accident in February 2004 when a high-pressure pipe at the plant exploded. The plant was already to be decommissioned as part of the planned closure of all six peat-fuelled stations in the country at that time. Subsequently the new 150 megawatt West Offaly station at the front has been constructed and this is supplied with around 1 million tons of peat annually by Bord na Mona. The old station was demolished in 2008/09 and the new station has until the end of 2020 before shutdown having just been reprieved for a year.

The three remaining Irish peat fired power stations are to be closed in December 2019. This is the old West Offaly power station at Shannonbridge. It was out of use when this photo was taken in 2008, having been replaced by the new station seen at the centre right edge. The old station was demolished during the following year.

Old and new peat fired power stations of the Irish Electricity Supply Board at Shannonbridge on the River Shannon. The old Shannonbridge plant at the right was closed after an accident in February 2004 when a high-pressure pipe at the plant exploded. The plant was already to be decommissioned as part of the planned closure of all six peat-fuelled stations in the country at that time. Subsequently the new 150 megawatt West Offaly station at the front has been constructed and this is supplied with around 1 million tons of peat annually by Bord na Mona. The old station was demolished shortly after the view was taken.

Old and new peat fired power stations of the Irish Electricity Supply Board at Shannonbridge. The old plant on the left was closed after an accident in February 2004 when a high-pressure pipe at the plant exploded. The plant was already to be decommissioned as part of the planned closure of all six peat-fuelled stations in the country at that time. Subsequently the new 150 megawatt West Offaly station at the front has been constructed and this is supplied with around 1 million tons of peat annually by Bord na Mona. The old station was demolished in 2008/09.

Action on the Danes Moss peat tramway in Macclesfield. This 'railtour' took place on 26th October 1962 and was punctuated by several derailments on the grassy tracks. Here the passengers scramble back aboard after rectifying a derailment whilst the motive power patiently watches. The gauge was 3ft 0ins and the motive power was named 'Star'. In the background can be glimpsed Macclesfield Moss signal box and wagons on the sidings adjacent to the building belonging to the British Peat Moss Litter Company Ltd which built and operated the tramway. I am very grateful to Alan Brackenbury for giving me permission to post his photograph and consult his notes made on the day of the railtour.

Edenderry Power Station is a peat fired plant producing 120mw of electricity and burning 1 million tonnes of biomass a year. This is mostly peat, supplies from nearby bogs via narrow gauge railway, but 7% of renewable biomass is burned, with plans to bring this up to 30%. In operation since 2000, it supplies around 3% of Ireland's national requirement. It is ireland's first privately owned power station and is operated by Edenderry Power Limited. In 2006 Bord na Móna paid €80m for Edenderry power station from E-On.

All was quiet when I called at the Portarlington peat-fired power station and the Ruston diesel was standing with a wagon loaded with boiler ash ready for a Monday morning trip to the tip on the worked out bog. Thanks to Ted McAvoy for help with the explanation.

Edenderry Power Station is a peat fired plant producing 120mw of electricity and burning 1 million tonnes of biomass a year. This is mostly peat, supplies from nearby bogs via narrow gauge railway, but 7% of renewable biomass is burned, with plans to bring this up to 30%. In operation since 2000, it supplies around 3% of Ireland's national requirement. It is ireland's first privately owned power station and is operated by Edenderry Power Limited. In 2006 Bord na Móna paid €80m for Edenderry power station from E-On.

Another trainload of peat arriving at the Edenderry power station in County Offaly.

Peat fired power station of the Irish Electricity Supply Board at Shannonbridge on the River Shannon. This 150 megawatt West Offaly station is supplied with around 1 million tons of peat annually by Bord na Mona. The old station which stood adjacent was demolished in 2008/9.

Lindow Moss peat railway with loading underway on a typical train. The unstable nature of the surface and trackbed is evident in the varying angles of wagons, excavator and locomotive. May 1985.

The 150 megawatt West Offaly power station is supplied each year with around 1 million tons of peat from the bogs in the region around Shannonbridge. Here it forms a backdrop to a train of empty peat wagons heading across the River Shannon. The old Shannonbridge power station that stood adjacent to the current plant was demolished early in 2009.

The Lough Ree Power Station at Lanesborough on the Shannon was commissioned in late 2004 at a cost in excess of €200 million. This peat fired plant has a generating capacity of 100mw and is expected to burn 800,000 tonnes per annum over a fiteen year lifespan.

A rare beast indeed. A right-angle crossing on a narrow gauge railway. Bord na Mona, Blackwater Bog system.