GE Vernova’s gas power business has secured an order to supply eight of its LM2500XPRESS aero-derivative gas turbines to the Electricity Supply Board of Ireland (ESB) for its Shannonbridge power plant, a new temporary reserve facility.

To be located in County Offaly, Ireland, the Shannonbridge power plant will provide 264MW of supply.

The plant is being built within the boundary of a decommissioned older power plant and will provide quick start-up emergency power, lowering the risk of shortages.

Operations are expected to commence during the winter of 2023–24.

It follows the recently announced construction of the 200MW emergency power plant by GE in ESB’s North Wall, in the Dublin area. This will also be powered by six of the company’s LM2500XPRESS gas turbines.

The power generated from the two projects will not be available on the open market. The projects have specific instructions to support the Irish grid when in need.

The Shannonbridge project will feature eight GE LM2500XPRESS units, built with proven LM2500 aero-derivative gas turbine technology.

They are simple cycle turbines with 38% efficiency, which generate between 21MW and 37MW and can be fuelled by a mix of up to 75% hydrogen.

The turbines will be manufactured at GE’s manufacturing facility in Veresegyhaz, Hungary.

GE Vernova will also provide three-year operation and maintenance (O&M) services.

GE Vernova gas power business Europe, Middle East and Africa president and CEO Joseph Anis stated: “Emergency power plants, like Shannonbridge and North Wall, need to start quickly and run when electricity demand is high and generation capacity from other sources available on the system is at risk of not meeting demand.

“We are proud to continue to work with ESB and to be bringing one of the best and most efficient aero-derivative packages and O&M services at the Shannonbridge power plant, to contribute to the security of Ireland’s electricity supply.”