Project overview
Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for building, managing and maintaining an extensive network of gas infrastructure across the Republic of Ireland, including the provision of new large-scale connections.
Our customer, ESB Generation & Trading, is constructing a new Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) at its site in Poolbeg in Dublin. This type of turbine is also referred to as a ‘peaker’ plant, and it will deliver fast energy capacity and services as the electricity grid facilitates an increasing amount of renewable energy. This unit will be utilised to ensure continuity of energy supply to Irish households and businesses in times of peak demand and/or when there is insufficient power being generated by renewables.
As part of its remit, Gas Networks Ireland is responsible for providing a connection for this new gas turbine to the existing national gas network.
Referred to as Gas to ESB Poolbeg 5, the new OCGT is being constructed by ESB at the site of the existing Poolbeg Above Ground Installation (AGI) in Dublin Bay. This will involve Gas Networks Ireland delivering a new Transmission (high pressure) natural gas connection at the AGI to supply the upgraded plant.
Gas to ESB Poolbeg 5 represents the fourth peaker to be connected for our customer ESB Generation & Trading as part of a wider project which also includes FlexGen OCGTs previously constructed at Corduff, Poolbeg and Ringsend. See www.gasnetworks.ie/esb for details.
Gas forms a key part of Ireland’s current energy mix and is the backbone to the national electricity grid when it comes to ensuring continuity of power. This project is part of Gas Networks Ireland’s strategic infrastructure delivery, helping to ensure we are meeting the country’s growing energy needs, while also supporting the transition to renewable power.
Fingleton White / Neo Dyne are the lead designer on this project, while construction works will be undertaken by Murphy and supervised by Gas Networks Ireland.
Site works commenced in February 2026 and are expected to conclude in late 2026.
We will be providing updates on the project via this site so please check back for more information.
Latest project update
A new Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) is being constructed by ESB Generation & Trading at the site of the existing Poolbeg Above Ground Installation (AGI) in Dublin Bay. This will involve Gas Networks Ireland delivering a new Transmission high pressure natural gas connection at the AGI to supply the upgraded plant.
Works will include altering and extending the existing Poolbeg AGI and decommissioning redundant assets. Decommissioning will involve the removal of a pressure reduction skid, buildings, water baths, pipework and cabling no longer in use. Main works will include the installation of a new filter metering system including gas analyser, pipework and electrical equipment used for filtration, fiscal metering, gas sampling and online gas analysis.
The new 40 barg (high pressure) connection will have a gross max hourly gas demand of 1,024 MWh - enough to power about 1 million homes.
The Abbotstown AGI, which will feed this OCGT turbine, has already been upgraded to facilitate the additional capacity required.
Enabling works to prepare the site commenced in February 2026 with our construction partner Murphy. The main construction works are due to get underway in late March 2026. As the works will be contained within the site, there is not anticipated to be any disruption to nearby residents or road users.
Environment and planning
The Abbotstown Above Ground Installation (AGI) extension works required to facilitate this project were granted planning permission by Dublin City Council. An Appropriate Assessment Screening Report formed part of the planning application given the project’s proximity to South Dublin Bay SAC (Special Area of Conservation) and South Dublin Bay and Tolka Estuary SPA (Special Protection Area), and the project screened out due to the relatively small scale and contained nature of the works. The project will be undertaken in accordance with an approved Construction Environmental Management Plan.
As part of Gas Network Ireland’s sustainability strategy, land reinstatement works were completed adjacent to Abbotstown AGI in 2025. The site, which originally had a low biodiversity ranking, now features several different habitat features including log piles and wild bee banks. Nearly 200 native trees, spanning 15 varieties, have been planted and yellow rattle has been sown to encourage a native Irish meadow.
Contact us
If you have a question, query or concern about this project then please contact one of our liaison officers who will be happy to help.
Our team is available from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm and can be reached by email or phone.
E: businesslink@gasnetworks.ie
T: 1800 411 511 (toll free)
Please also check the ‘project updates’ section of this site for information.