Ireland's offshore wind energy in critical need of port development
The EU Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) funding programme is supporting Port of Cork Company for the construction of two quay berths at its deepwater site in Ringaskiddy.
, of Wind Energy Ireland, says if we are serious about our wind farms, the government's National Ports Policy needs to be at the top of the political agenda
Twenty years after Ireland's first offshore wind farm became operational, momentum is growing behind Ireland’s offshore wind energy revolution.
Earlier this year, the first phase of new offshore wind energy projects started entering the planning system and, if successful, these six wind farms are expected to start construction within the next few years.
The Government also launched its long-term plan to deliver many more offshore wind projects between now and 2050 and we need to accelerate the development of policies to support floating wind energy to take advantage of this.
As a country we have an advantage when it comes to offshore wind because of our large maritime area and some of the strongest winds in Europe.
Growing Ireland’s clean energy resources is a key part of the Government’s goal to have 80 per cent of our electricity coming from renewable sources like wind and solar energy by 2030.
Irish people want more affordable, clean and secure energy. This is what offshore wind farms will help to provide as well as many economic opportunities for coastal communities and businesses across Ireland.
With Ireland’s focus now turning to developing the first phase of our new offshore wind energy projects, the practicalities of how these wind farms can be delivered must be closely examined.
Only Belfast Harbour is currently suitable to support the construction of an offshore wind farm but to grasp the opportunity and all the benefits offshore wind can bring, we need more port infrastructure.
Ports help offshore wind farms in two ways. First, ports store foundations and turbines, which are then assembled and shipped to the wind farm at sea for installation.
Second, they can be used as operations and maintenance bases. Once a wind farm is up and running it needs to be monitored and maintained. This includes a team of engineers, turbine technicians and administrative staff, as well as maintenance crews for the vessels that transport maintenance teams to the turbines.
The development of new ports, or the expansion of our existing ones, so that they can be used as staging and marshalling facilities needs to be a top priority for the next Government if we want to build our wind farms from Irish ports.
Several ports across Ireland already have plans to expand their infrastructure so they can be used to build and maintain our offshore wind farms. This will create jobs at home and play a vital role in helping to deliver offshore wind energy at the lowest possible price, but these improvements require significant amounts of investment.
Research published from DCU in June found that at least two ports are needed to deliver Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets. We need to be able to build more than one offshore wind project at the same time if we want to quickly deliver more clean energy to power our economy.
The reality is that if Irish ports are to be ready to support offshore wind farm construction in time, the infrastructure needs to be built now.
Port investment a big boost for offshore wind The Port of Cork recently secured funding through the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility, and a new partnership was announced last month between the port and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund to support the development of new infrastructure in Cork Harbour. This is expected to cost over €100 million.
These announcements marked a huge milestone for port development in Ireland and will significantly enhance the Port of Cork’s operating capacity.
But if we in Ireland are serious about our wind farms being built from Irish ports, amending the government's National Ports Policy to facilitate continued investment and State support for port development must be moved to the top of the political agenda.
We want to build Irish wind farms from Irish ports. That is the best way to create jobs at home and to deliver offshore wind energy at the lowest possible price. But the next Irish Government needs to want this as well.
