Sealrock (Aughinish CHP) — Ireland

Sealrock (Aughinish CHP) is a 170 MW gas power station in Munster, Ireland. It is operated by Aughinish. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 191k homes (estimated). It ranks #21 of 76 Ireland power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2005, it is around 21 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 274,930 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 64k cars driven for a year. 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 WRI1002838.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000400332; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 170 MW, Sealrock (Aughinish CHP) is below the median gas plant in Ireland (275 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.

~274,930 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms

This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:

Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.

Key facts

Share of Ireland gas capacity

2.4% of 7,234 MW across 24 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

3 of 16 dated gas plants in Ireland are older

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 Aughinish.

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 52.6°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 13% 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: 57/100 — 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness 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 #16 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

• Tarbert · Oil · 488 MW · Munster
• Moneypoint power station · Coal · 915 MW · Munster
• Art Data Centre power station · Gas · 120.6 MW · Ennis
• Ardnacrusha · Hydro · 85 MW · Clare
• Knockacummer 1 · Wind · 87 MW · Munster
• Cloghboola · Wind · 46 MW · Munster

Location

Coordinates 52.6324, -9.0596 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions