Gas used at Kilroot power station for first time

Kilroot was Northern Ireland’s last coal-fired power station

Kilroot power station has successfully generated electricity from gas, following the end of coal generation in 2023.

The station’s Czech owner, EPUKI, said the first of its new turbines exported electricity for the first time on Sunday night.

A second gas turbine is due to begin operating in the near future.

There had been concerns about the electricity supply between the end of coal generation and the start of gas.

Blackout risks low

When coal generation ended in September the electricity grid operator, System Operator NI (SONI), sought to reassure people that the risk of blackouts was low.

Alan Campbell, the chief executive of SONI, said while the pressure on the system would be greater than in previous winters he was confident there was enough generating capacity from conventional and renewable sources.

In the event there was one brief “amber alert”, meaning the buffer between electricity supply and demand was tighter than SONI would have liked.

An EPUKI spokesperson said the new gas units were important to maintain security of electricity supply whilst “ensuring the continuation of indigenous, dispatchable generation in Northern Ireland”.

The company is planning further investment in the Kilroot site including a solar farm and battery storage.