West Offaly Power is a 137 MW biomass power station in Leinster, Ireland. It is operated by ESBPG. Based on reported annual generation of 968 GWh, it can supply roughly 276k homes. It ranks #23 of 76 Ireland power plants by installed capacity. In context, biomass supplies about 3.3% 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 WRI1002843.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 81%, from 968 GWh of reported generation
- Share of Ireland biomass capacity
- 61.7% of 222 MW across 3 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 biomass plants in Ireland
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by ESBPG.
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. 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 22% 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: 62/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 #1 largest biomass power plant of 3 in Ireland by capacity.
Ireland has 3 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 222 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Shannonbridge power station · Oil · 264 MW · Shannonbridge
- Monksland power station · Gas · 100 MW · County Roscommon
- Coolpowra power plant · Gas · 1,155 MW · Galway
- Tynagh · Gas · 404 MW · Connaught
- Derrybrien · Wind · 60 MW · Connaught
- Monaincha Bog (Gate 3) · Wind · 32.5 MW · Munster
Location
Coordinates 53.2735, -8.0403 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is West Offaly Power?
West Offaly Power is a 137 MW biomass power plant in Leinster, Ireland.
How much electricity does West Offaly Power generate?
West Offaly Power generates about 968 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates West Offaly Power?
West Offaly Power is operated by ESBPG.