Dublin City Council has issued a planning notice for the long-promised Dublin District Heating Project, opening a six-week period for public submissions on the scheme. According to the council, the project will capture heat generated by burning household waste at the Dublin Waste to Energy (DWtE) facility—commonly known as the Poolbeg incinerator—and pipe it to 50,000 homes and buildings across Dublin’s Docklands areas. City officials stated that they hope to begin construction work next year and connect the first properties by 2028.
Infrastructure Works and Pipeline Routes Across Dublin
The revived initiative involves substantial civil engineering work across the capital. As outlined by Dublin City Council, the scheme entails constructing a new subterranean conduit beneath the Dodder river to route pipes between Sir John Rogerson’s Quay and York Road in Ringsend. An additional 8.5km of underground pipes will be laid in residential areas spanning the north and south quays, while most other works will take place on and around the DWtE site itself. The network is designed to carry hot water from DWtE through pipes just under a metre in diameter to taps and radiators in connected properties before returning the water back to the plant.
Integration With Existing Waste-to-Energy Operations
The DWtE facility already uses a portion of its generated heat to boil water that creates steam to generate electricity, but the site has been envisioned as a municipal district heating source since the early 2000s. Parts of the essential pipeline network—including a passage beneath the River Liffey connecting the north and south quays—have been installed since 2010, which predates the 2017 launch of DWtE operations. When the network is complete, homes and businesses will receive radiator heat and hot water supplied directly by the plant, replacing much of the gas and electricity currently used.
Did You Know? A smaller district heating scheme—recognized as the country’s first—has been operating in Tallaght since 2023, utilizing heat generated by an Amazon data centre to warm nearby municipal and university buildings.
Planning Process and Public Consultation Timelines
Dublin City Council has advanced the scheme under the Part 8 planning process, in which the local authority applies to itself for permission to carry out municipal works. However, An Coimisiún Pleanála may also have a role in determining the project’s progress. Members of the public have four weeks, until October 7th, to apply to the planning board for a screening determination to assess whether the development is likely to cause significant environmental effects. In contrast, Dublin City Council’s own assessment concluded that there is no real likelihood of significant effects and that a full environmental impact assessment report is not required. The council will accept other observations and written submissions directly or via its online planning portal until October 21st.
Project Sequencing and Connected Developments
Dublin City Council hopes to carry out the advertised construction and begin connecting customers between 2027 and 2028. Initial beneficiaries will be newly constructed apartments located on the old Irish Glass Bottle grounds, with subsequent expansions reaching properties throughout the northern and southern Docklands. The system will maintain a continuous flow of hot water, adding heat to the network dynamically as households demand it, while retaining backup systems to prevent disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main energy source for the Dublin District Heating Project?
According to Dublin City Council, the project will take heat generated by burning household waste at the Dublin Waste to Energy plant at Poolbeg and pipe it to surrounding buildings.
How can the public participate in the planning process?
The public can submit observations and written submissions directly or through the Dublin City Council online planning portal until October 21st, or apply to An Coimisiún Pleanála for a screening determination until October 7th.
Which properties will receive heat first?
Initial access to the service will be granted to new apartment blocks on the former Irish Glass Bottle property, with further connections rolling out to buildings across the north and south Docklands.
How do you view the timeline for connecting the first 50,000 homes in Dublin’s Docklands by 2028?
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