Ireland first to use ‘floating off-shore wind turbines’

Ireland plans to become the first country in the world to use “floating off-shore wind turbines” which it is envisaged will supply the national grid with green electricity within the next six years.

There are no commercially viable wind turbines in the world which are not firmly attached to the seabed, and the west coast is viewed as one of the best places in the world to use this emergent technology.

It is being developed by scientists at IMERC (Irish Maritime Energy Research Cluster) in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, and UCC’s Beaufort Centre.