| Whitegate power station | |
| Country: | Ireland |
| Location: | Whitegate, County Cork |
| Status: | Operational |
| Construction Began: | March 2008 |
| Commissioned: | June 2010 |
| Cost: | €400 million |
| Owner: | Bord Gáis Energy |
| Operator: | Bord Gáis Energy |
| Employees: | 50 |
| Th Fuel Primary: | Natural gas |
| Th Fuel Secondary: | Light distillate |
| Th Fuel Tertiary: | Refinery off gas |
| Th Technology: | CCGT |
| Ps Site Area: | 11 hectare |
| Ps Site Elevation: | Sea level |
| Ps Chimneys: | 1 (60 metres) |
| Ps Cooling Source: | Air cooling (fin-fan) |
| Ps Combined Cycle: | Yes |
| Ps Units Operational: | 2 x 280 MW |
| Ps Units Manu Model: | General Electric GE Frame 9FB |
| Ps Electrical Capacity: | 445 MW |
| Ps Annual Generation: | 50 GWh (2011) |
Whitegate power station is a 445 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) electricity generating station near Whitegate, County Cork in Ireland. It was commissioned in 2010 and can supply up to ten percent of the electricity demand in Ireland.
In 2005 the then ESB Eirgrid identified that additional electricity generating capacity would be required by 2010.[1] In response Bord Gáis Éireann (now Bord Gáis Energy), a commercial state body, proposed to build a new power station in County Cork. A site was selected (51°49’07”N 08°15’17”W) adjacent to Whitegate refinery, this provided ready access to light distillate from the refinery for use as fuel. It was also close to the natural gas grid and to the electricity grid at the 110 kV high voltage Whitegate substation. Bord Gáis contracted General Electric Operations and Maintenance (GE O&M) to design, operate and maintain the power station. Construction started in March 2008. The investment in the station was €400 million.[2]
Whitegate power station is a 445 MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) station. The station comprises two 280 MW General Electric GE Frame 9FB gas turbines.[3] The gas turbines can be fired with natural gas or light distillate fuel. The turbines drive alternators. The turbine exhaust generates steam in the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), the steam is used to drive a 150 MW GE A15 steam turbine and an alternator. Steam is condensed in an air cooler (fin-fan cooler).[4] Additional firing is available in the inlet duct of the HRSG, using refinery off gas or natural gas The thermal efficiency of the station is 58.5%, making it the most efficient station in Ireland.[2] The station was commissioned on 8 November 2009.[2]
Electricity output from the station is transformed up to 220 kV. This is fed into the 220 kV line between Aghada power station and Raffeen substation.[5]
It was envisaged that the station would principally run on light distillate fuel oil, however in its initial operating years natural gas was used extensively.[4]
| Year | 2010 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light fuel used | 8,254 m3 | 187,204 m3 | |
| Natural gas used | 136.33 million m3 | 432.8 million m3 | |
| Electricity generated | 30.047 GWh | 49.133 GWh |