Ardnacrusha

: Ardnacrusha hydroelectric power plant, August 2005 This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Overall view of 30m drop with 4 penstocks. Each of 6m diameter and a capacity of 100 tonnes of water per second. Photographed in 2017

ORIGINAL USE

Power generating station

CURRENT USE

Power generating station – 82 MW capacity

Turbine room with Francis vertical shaft turbines. Photogrpahed in 2017

LOCATION

Ardnacrusha, County Clare.

2-stage 30m high boat lock. Photographed in 2017

DATE

1925-29

ARCHITECT

Siemens-Schuckert

BUILDER

Siemens-Schuckert / local labour force.

150 German Engineers + 5000 local labour force

Ardnacrusha_Power_Station_Construction_-_canal — Construction of the main dam and canal. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Ardnacrusha_Power_Station_Construction_-_dam — Construction of the main dam and canal. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Ardnacrusha_Power_Station_Construction — Construction of the main dam and canal. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Impressive landmark lock tower at the top end of the boat lock. Photographed in 2017

CLIENT

Irish Free State / ESB

BUDGET

Initial budget of £5 200 000

Lossess of RM 24 500 000 [6.4] absorbed by Siemens-Schuckert

MAJOR REFURBISHMENTS

1934 – Fourth Kaplan turbine (in addition to 3 original Francis turbines) generating 30 MW installed by Siemens Schuckert.

1996 – New control room designed by architect Vincent Coleman for ESB International allowing for full automation of the power station. Ardnacrusha Control Room won RIAI Regional Award in 1996.