Offaly Great Helps Power One Million Homes In Manchester
Former Offaly and Ireland International Rules footballer Ciaran McManus has been rising to new challenges since hanging up his boots.
As manager of ESB’s new Carrington Power Station, the Tubber native captains a 40-strong team that runs the ultra-efficient plant – in turn powering more than one million homes and businesses in the Greater Manchester area.
An engineer by profession, Ciaran joined ESB 17 years ago and this week welcomed UK Minister for Energy Jesse Norman, ESB senior executives and a host of UK media organisations to the plant’s official opening on Monday 13 March.
Ciaran McManus and local MP Kate Green at the opening of Carrington Power Station
Speaking following the opening of the station, Ciaran says: “Carrington Power Station has been successfully exporting electricity since September and the official opening on Monday was a great source of pride for our staff at the plant. As one of the most flexible and efficient plants in the UK, we have had a great start to our operations and every day brings with it new challenges, which we meet head on. It was a huge personal honour to see Carrington Power Station – a significant expansion in ESB’s operations in Great Britain -come to full fruition this week.”
As well as providing 884MW of reliable baseload electricity, Carrington Power Station is one of the most flexible plants providing fast back-up when it is needed most to intermittent wind and solar generation.
Officiating at Monday’s ceremony, Jesse Norman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, paid tribute to Ciaran and the wider ESB team that has driven the project: “This welcome investment by ESB in Carrington is already delivering secure electricity to over a million homes and businesses. New power stations like this complement low carbon wind and solar renewable energy by providing reliable electricity all year round, whatever the weather or time of day. And this investment has created skilled jobs for the area as well.”
Ciaran moved to Manchester in 2014 with his wife Linda and two children Lucy (5 years old) and Cillian (3), and welcomed their third addition, Emma, on November 15 last. Reflecting on three years of family life in Manchester, Ciaran says: “We are thoroughly enjoying life in Manchester. It has been a great experience to date. The easy access from Dublin means we are never short of visitors calling and always great to have family and friends over. Manchester is on the doorstep of fantastic national parks such as the Peak District and Lake District, and we get full value from our family membership of the National Trust.”
He remains a competitive sportsman, playing with local soccer teams and running with Altrincham District Athletics Club, although he adds: “The kids are now at an age where taking them to coaching and training is now the priority. I’ve also took in a number of Premier League matches at both Manchester City and United grounds.”
However, Ciaran concludes emphatically: “Nothing beats the Croke Park experience.”
The Carrington project at a glance:
- 884MW high efficiency combined cycle gas plant
- More than one million homes and businesses in the Greater Manchester area powered by the plant
- 4.8 million hours worked on the project
- 4,893 workers from planning to commissioning
- 850 workers on site during peak construction times
- 35,000 cubic metres of concrete poured
- More than 50 exceptional heavy/wide construction load deliveries removed from local roads by using Manchester Ship Canal
About Carrington Power Station
Carrington Power Station sits on the banks of the River Mersey and generates about four times more electricity than the former coal plant on the site. As well as providing 884MW of reliable baseload electricity, Carrington Power Station is one of the most flexible plants providing fast back-up to intermittent wind and solar generation when it is needed most.
Carrington Power Station is one of the most efficient combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant on the system with a thermal efficiency of 58%.
About ESB
ESB is Ireland’s foremost energy company and the largest supplier of renewable electricity. Through innovation, expertise and investment, ESB is leading the way in developing a modern, efficient electricity system, capable of delivering sustainable and competitive energy supplies to our customers. Every day, ESB works for a better energy future by investing in low-carbon generating technologies in Ireland and Great Britain, building smarter electricity networks in Ireland and working with others to find innovative solutions to today’s energy challenges.
