MERP Update

The merp (Moneypoint Environmental Retrofit Project) is a key project for Commercial Group, Power Generation. The Commercial Group project team consists of Mary O’Donnell, Liam Kitson, Nicky Codd and Tom Moran. The project is well advanced having commenced on site of early 2005. The project involves:

• The installation of Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) technology to reduce the sulphurous oxide (SOx) emissions by up to 90% from its current level.
• The installation of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology to reduce the nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 85% from its current level.
• The construction of a landfill to accommodate the nonhazardous by-product waste from the FGD.
• The refurbishment of the existing generating units which includes the change out of the existing control systems.

Declan Whyte, Project Manager for ESBI, who are the ‘Owners Engineer’ on the project has said that the construction phase of the project is substantially complete and that all of the MERP equipment has entered operation for the first time.

The management of safety on site has been the main focus for all involved. At the peak of construction more than 1200 people were entering Moneypoint on a daily basis. This presented considerable logistical challenges to the project teams.

Over 4.1 million man-hours have now been worked on the MERP site to date. Shay Hynes, ESBI’s Site Manager, is delighted that the excellent work by Moneypoint Station, ESBI and Commercial Group, in the management of safety was recognised when the MERP site received a Merit Award in 2008 as part of the Power Generation Excellence in Health and Safety Awards.

Ciaran Gallagher is the MERP Interface Manager for the Station team. Ciaran stressed that the management of the interface between the construction site and the existing station equipment has been crucial during the construction stage of the project. Station resources have been working with the project team since 2002.Valuable experience is being gained by station personnel while working along with AE&E Lentjes the main EPC contractor and ESBI. Exciting times are ahead for station personnel as the project transitions from a construction site to the operation of plant under normal station operations.

The project has encountered technical challenges along the way and solutions were successfully implemented to deal with these. Lentjes have proposed engineering solutions to overcome the remaining defects which will bring the project to a successful completion later in the year.

The installed emission abatement technologies have already made a significant contribution to Power Generation reducing its NOx and SOx emissions. When completed, the project will reduce emissions of NOx and SOx to circa 3kt tonnes each. Bernadine Maloney, Moneypoint Station Manager, advised that prior to MERP these would have been 21kt and 29kt respectively. The MERP project will therefore ensure that Moneypoint will play a key role in Power Generation meeting its emission targets for the foreseeable future.