Generators stuck at port as they are too heavy for M50
More than €10m worth of generator engines meant to tackle the State’s electricity supply shortage have been stranded in Dublin Port for over a year as they are too heavy to transport on the M50 toll bridge.
The machines were shipped to Ireland last summer by German manufacturer MAN Energy Solutions to be brought to two industrial estates in Dublin.
However, after the 11 engines arrived in Dublin Port, it was discovered they were too hefty for transport across the M50, weighing in at 275pc more than the design load for the West-Link toll bridge.
They have stayed in storage as engineers and local authorities try to work out how to safely bring them to their destination.
The engines were imported at a time of growing concern over the national grid and its ability to provide enough power at peak times and in winter.
In June last year, M50 Concession Ltd — which runs the motorway — said it had “serious concerns” at the use of the road for transporting the enormous “abnormal indivisible loads”.
They said they were worried over how seven bridges along the M50 would cope and especially the West-Link bridge, which crosses the Liffey.
A letter to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said “at this stage we reasonably believe that the proposed movement of the abnormal indivisible loads could cause damage” to the M50.
A few days later, TII responded to say it shared those concerns about the proposal, which would have seen 13 separate trips carrying loads of 426 to 496 tonnes across the Liffey Valley.
A letter said: “The [West-Link] bridge structures would never have been envisaged as being required to carry an abnormal load of 496 tonnes which is
275pc greater than the 180-tonne design load.”
Two evaluations by engineers suggested that use of the M50 would be safe if certain conditions were met. These included a full escort for the abnormal loads, speeds of no more than 15kmh, travelling along the centre of the road, and no other vehicles on the West-Link bridge during the crossing.
However, TII and the motorway operators were unconvinced, and permission was not granted to use M50 for the transfer.
The engines were destined for Grange Castle and Profile Park industrial estates in Dublin, and would have provided more than 200MW of back-up electricity.
MAN Energy Solutions had planned to import 16 of the dual-fuel engines, with another reserve power plant proposed for Co Roscommon near Athlone.
A spokesman said: “An alternative transport route is under review with the local authorities.”