Ireland's offshore energy supplies are at a crossroads

Gas fields off the Cork coast have supplied Ireland with energy for decades but are coming to an end. Can wind energy replace them.

More than 12 GW of offshore wind energy projects are at some stage of development off Ireland's coasts. Picture: iStock

The past and the future met this month as a significant milestone for offshore energy in Ireland was reached.

Earlier this month the last commercial volumes of natural gas arrived onshore in Cork from the Kinsale gas fields as PSE Kinsale Energy Limited (KEL) ceased production after 42 years of service and almost two trillion cubic feet of natural gas – double the original reserve estimate.