Poolbeg Combined Cycle is a 490 MW gas power station in Leinster, Ireland. It is operated by ESBPG. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 552k homes (estimated). It ranks #4 of 76 Ireland power plants by installed capacity. In context, gas supplies about 48.4% of Ireland's electricity; the national grid averages 257 gCO₂/kWh (48.1% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1002836.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000400330; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 490 MW, Poolbeg Combined Cycle is well above the median gas plant in Ireland (275 MW). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Ireland gas capacity
- 6.8% of 7,234 MW across 24 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Ireland
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by ESBPG.
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 53.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 25% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 64/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #3 largest gas power plant of 24 in Ireland by capacity.
Ireland has 24 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 7,234 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Dublin Waste power station · Biomass · 68 MW · Leinster
- Dublin Bay Power · Gas · 405 MW · Leinster
- North Wall power station · Gas · 426 MW · County Dublin
- Huntstown · Gas · 343 MW · Leinster
- Huntstown Phase II · Gas · 404 MW · Leinster
- Corduff Flexgen power station · Gas · 63.5 MW · County Dublin
Location
Coordinates 53.3396, -6.1867 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Poolbeg Combined Cycle?
Poolbeg Combined Cycle is a 490 MW gas power plant in Leinster, Ireland.
Who operates Poolbeg Combined Cycle?
Poolbeg Combined Cycle is operated by ESBPG.