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23
ENERGY INTERNATIONAL
December 2011/January 2012 www.esb.ie/em
ESBI delegation meets Minister for Energy in Bahrain
ESBI’S CONTRIBUTION to the development of the electricity transmission network in Bahrain was recently acknowledged by the Bahraini Minister for Energy, Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza at a meeting with representatives from ESBI . An account of the meeting published on the website of the Bahrain Electricity & Water Authority is reproduced in full below:
HE the Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain, receives ESB International delegation and praises its outstanding performance and cooperation with Electricity and Water Authority.
HE Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister of Energy, Kingdom of Bahrain, received Ollie Brogan, Manager, ESB International (ESBI) along with representatives from ESBI including Sean Atkinson, Business Development Manager, Paul Murphy, Bahrain Key Account Manager, Tom Ralph, ESBI Site Manager and Michael Fox Manager ESBI Engineering in his office of the Electricity & Water Authority, Bahrain. The meeting was also attended by Dr. Abdulmajeed Ali Alawadi, Chief Executive of the Electricity and Water Authority, Bahrain.
The minister welcomed Ollie Brogan ESBI delegation meets Minister for Energy in Bahrain and the accompanying delegation and praised their technical and professional expertise, cooperation and long lasting relationship with the Electricity & Water Authority that made a quantum leap in developing and strengthening the National electricity transmission grid of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Dr. Mirza added that Electricity and Water Authority will keep working together with ESBI to further strengthen the cooperation in the field of consultancy offered by them.
Ollie Brogan, briefed the Minister of Energy on the company’s role and services offered globally in the relevant field of power where they proved their worth and credibility.
At the end of the meeting, Ollie Brogan thanked H.E. the Minister of Energy for the warm welcome and reception the delegation had received. The delegation said they appreciated EWA’s approach in the development of the electric transmission grid in Bahrain and spoke about their willingness to participate in all the future electricity and water projects and programs of the EWA.
This article is also published on the Electricity and Water Authority’s website.
World Quality Week Pursuit
WORLD QUALITY WEEK ran from Monday to Friday November 7th-11th and was celebrated in ESBI with a series of presentations. The theme for the week was In Pursuit Of Excellence.
Staff from Asset Management Services (AMS), High Voltage (HV) and Power Plant Engineering delivered presentations on a broad range of topics and a ‘Lunch and Learn’ was presented by ESBI Performance Improvement Project Manager Jacinta Ryan.
Lu Bai (AMS) began the week’s activities with his presentation on Overhead line crossing clearances policy review. This was followed by Liam O’Sullivan (AMS) on Maintenance Instructions for Transmission Assets in High Voltage Substations.
Colin McCahey (AMS) delivered a talk on A 400kV Circuit Breaker Failure. Oisin Armstrong’s (High Voltage) presentation was entitled Quality in Overhead Lines and Dan Catanase (AMS) spoke on Quality Procedures in HV Commissioning.
Ken Lynch (Power Plant) provided an in depth treatment on European Quality Compliance based on the EU ‘New Approach’ at the ESBI Cork Office. The Lunch & Learn, Quality Review – Feedback and Next Steps, brought the events for the week to a fitting close. All the presentations were well-attended and contributed to what was a very successful week in raising awareness of quality throughout ESBI. “ESBI’s commitment to quality underpinned by the diversity of our staff expertise and coupled with high levels of customer satisfaction and robust processes, will enable us to meet the challenges we face in the road ahead,” commented ESBI Quality Manager Noel Clarke.
Erne Stations celebrate 60th Anniversary
COMPRISING CATHALEEN’S Fall, Cliff and Clady, Donegal Stations have played a very important role in ESB’s development of hydro electricity generation in Ireland. 1952 saw the official opening of Cathaleen’s Fall officially opened in 1952 and the station is still powering ahead.
ESB began work on the hydro electric development of the River Erne in 1946. Two power stations, Cathaleen’s Fall at Ballyshannon and Cliff, near Beleek, were constructed using the natural 45m fall on the stretch of river between Beleek and the sea at Ballyshannon. To improve water control in the catchment, the 6km Beleek Channel was enlarged by excavating 600,000m3 of earth and rock from the river bed with barge and boat locks constructed at Enniskillen.
Building the two dams involved major construction and excavation works, and final delivery of the project was not only a huge engineering feat for its time but also a key factor in securing the nation’s electricity supply. With Station Superintendent, JBS Lawlor, and many of those who worked on its construction and operation, Cathaleen’s Fall Station was officially opened on 1st October 1952 by the then Minister for Industry and Commerce, Sean Lemass.
Built later in the 1950s, Clady Station is situated in the very picturesque Gaeltacht area of Gaoth Dobhair in northwest Donegal. With a catchment area of 80km2, the 4.2MW station has a typical annual output of 16,000MWh which can rise to over 20,000MWh in very wet years.
Over the years ESB has played a key role in the management of the River Erne in close co-operation with several agencies in Northern Ireland. The construction of the dams and associated drainage works in Fermanagh has significantly alleviated flooding in the area. Checks are carried out daily on water levels in Upper and Lower Lough Erne which, together with weather forecasts, determine the daily output in megawatts of the stations.
The current station structure consists of four separate disciplines: civil, mechanical, electrical and support. All disciplines work together as a team in the management of dam safety, flood control and the generation of electricity in a safe, environmentally friendly and sustainable manner. Donegal Stations are an integral part of the local community and facilitate a range of activities including school tours, participation in cross border and local events and sponsorship of activities in the area.
After over 60 years of reliable operation, a major refurbishment programme of Erne Stations commenced in 2010. Unit 4 in Cathaleen`s Fall has been completed this year and refurbishment of Unit 3 is currently underway. The overall programme is scheduled for completion in 2012, with further modernisation plans in the pipeline for Cliff and Clady. Speaking following the completion of Unit 4, Station Manager at Cathaleen’s Fall, Padraig Dooley said, “The refurbishment and modernisation of Erne Stations will ensure the plant will provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly source of energy for decades to come.”
