Construction at SSE’s 460MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant in Great Island continues to go from strength to strength, and is on course to be completed on schedule for its commissioning in 2014.
Great Island will be the newest and most efficient power plant in Ireland’s Single Electricity Market and is substantially less carbon intensive than the existing heavy fuel oil station, which has been in operation since 1968.
The project which spans a 143 acre brown field site is already over 50% complete, with the procurement process and the engineering work now over 95% complete.
Works to connect the new modern and efficient gas powered plant to the national grid and to its gas supply are also in advanced stages. The construction team has recently laid a 220kV cable which will connect the plant to EirGrid’s newly constructed 220kV GIS compound and Bord Gáis Networks are on schedule to provide a gas connection to the plant by August.
There are currently 471 workers on site with approximately 100 more to join over the coming weeks. The project is transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical works therefore the work profile and risk profile is changing. All the major equipment is now on foundation including the Gas Turbine, Steam Turbine, HRSG, Stack and Transformer.
Pamela Walsh, SSE’s Director of Generation and Business Services in Ireland commented: “SSE is delighted to be increasing its generation capacity in Ireland and increasing the generating capacity of the south east region. The addition of Great Island to our generation portfolio gives us substantial and diverse generation assets to securely and cost-effectively meet the energy demand of our rapidly growing supply business, Airtricity, in a way that is sustainable for the long term.”