Ansaldo Energia and Kilshane Energy are collaborating on Ireland’s electric infrastructure with a 300-MW energy security project.
Ansaldo Energia and Kilshane Energy are strengthening Ireland’s electric infrastructure with a 300-MW energy security project in Kilshane, Dublin, Ireland; commissioning is set for 2028. To support the peaking plant’s operational flexibility and stabilize the grid, Ansaldo Energia will provide an AE94.3A gas turbine in an open-cycle configuration and the associated generator.
“This project is about resilience and flexibility,” said Brian McMullan, Project Lead for Kilshane Energy Ltd. “As Ireland moves toward a net-zero energy system, we need reliable backup generation to complement the growing renewable fleet. The technology from Ansaldo Energia is not only flexible and robust, but it also offers a future pathway to decarbonization, with the potential for hydrogen blending and other low-carbon fuels. Kilshane Energy is committed to supporting Ireland’s sustainable energy future, and this partnership with Ansaldo Energia reinforces its long-term strategy to deliver flexible, dependable generation as part of the national transition.”
"We are proud to play a role in this strategic project and sincerely thank Kilshane Energy Ltd. for placing their trust in our technology and know-how," said Stefano Gianatti, Executive Vice President Thermal New Units at Ansaldo Energia. "The AE94.3A gas turbine continues to prove its value in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape. With its best-in-class flexibility and reliability, it is ideally suited to support Ireland’s energy security while advancing the country’s decarbonization goals."
Credit: Ansaldo Energia
Last month, Turbomachinery International interviewed Stefano Gianatti, Executive Vice President of Thermal New Units at Ansaldo Energia, about the company’s recent contract with MVM Tisza Erőmű to design, develop, and construct a combined-cycle gas turbine power plant at the Tiszaújváros site in eastern Hungary.
“The strong global expansion of renewable energy sources has increased the need for flexible and reliable generation to compensate for their inherent intermittency,” Gianatti said.
He explained the challenges associated with commissioning newbuild power plants and installing flexible generation” “Commissioning newbuild power plants and installing flexible generation involve complex supply-chain management, integrating advanced technologies, and meeting stringent environmental targets. The Tisza project will feature two combined-cycle units for 1,000 MW total. The Tisza Combined-Cycle Power Plant is expected to enter operation four years from the commencement date, which is planned for autumn 2025.
The Tiszaújváros site will use two of Ansaldo Energia’s GT26 gas turbines, each operating on natural gas and already capable of using up to 30% hydrogen in the fuel mix, with the potential to accommodate higher hydrogen concentrations in the future.
“While the plant will initially run on natural gas, it has been configured from the outset to support the gradual integration of hydrogen,” said Gianatti. “This future-proof approach aligns with Hungary’s decarbonization goals and ensures the plant’s long-term viability.”
