User:Ww2censor/Brian Tuke

Hydroelectric power

The lower reservoir of the Turlough Hill pumped-storage scheme

Since the inception of the state, the first Shannon hydroelectric scheme was constructed in 1929 with seven years of independence. Built by Siemens-Schuckert with Irish engineers doing much of the design and using mostly Irish labour, it has an 86MW capacity with an annual generation 332GWh. This was followed up by the much larger Turlough Hill and only pumped-storage built into the mountain with a capacity of 292 megawatts completed in 1974 after 6 years of construction. A few other smaller hydroelectric stations exist around the country, such as Pollaphuca and Inniscarra Dam. Catherine Halpin, Ardnacrusha's plant manager suggests that the four main hydro plants are availing of about 70% of the country's water resources.

A tidal energy system is in operation since 2008 in Strangford Lough producing 1.2 megawatts using an underwater windmill" whose rotors at driven by the tidal currents. It has a capacity to produce enough electricity for about 1,000 homes.