Moneypoint and the energy grid

Sir, – The ESB plan to convert Moneypoint power station to oil has been criticised by Oisín Coghlan of Friends of the Earth Ireland (“Move to convert Moneypoint from coal to oil criticised”, News, June 8th).

Mr Coghlan is concerned that the plan will prolong our fossil-fuel dependency, questions the flexibility of the proposed plant and points to the marginal increase in efficiency – from 34 per cent to 37 per cent.

In fact, the ESB’s proposal has a number of advantages as renewable energy expands.

The oil-fired plant will emit 30 per cent less carbon dioxide than coal for the same energy; it is more flexible than coal, hence well able to balance the system as renewable generation varies; and the large Moneypoint generators will continue to help stabilise the grid. – Yours, etc,