Offshore wind energy deal is announced
A landmark deal has been signed that will deliver a series of offshore wind development projects off the Irish coast.
The agreement, between ESB and Danish energy company Ørsted, has the potential to deliver up to 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy.
The partnership also encompasses an agreement to explore opportunities from renewable hydrogen produced from the projects in the longer term.
The first of the offshore wind projects is expected to compete in the next Irish offshore wind auction, ORESS 2.1.
The agreement aims to help deliver on the Irish Government’s 2030 target of installing 7 GW of offshore wind and ultimately support Ireland’s transition to net-zero.
With a maritime area more than 10 times the size of its landmass, Ireland is said to be ideally positioned to grow a strong offshore sector, helping to decarbonise the Irish electricity system and enable future renewable energy exports to Europe.
The agreement was launched last week in Cork Chamber’s Fitzgerald House by Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney TD, ESB’s Jim Dollard and Duncan Clark, Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted.
Welcoming the partnership, Mr Coveney described it as a “strong vote of confidence” in Ireland’s sustainable future and “an important milestone” in building an affordable and clean energy system for Ireland.
He said: “We’ve signed into law an ambitious Climate Action Plan, which includes a 5 GW offshore wind target by 2030 with a target to generate 80% of our electricity from renewable sources.
“This will be further supported by a National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind from my department.”
Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation and Trading, said: “ESB is developing a large renewables pipeline, and as part of that, has developed a strong portfolio of offshore wind projects around the coasts of Ireland.
“Offshore wind in Ireland will play a key part in the delivery of the ESB Strategy, Driven to Make A Difference – Net Zero by 2040, and the announcement of this partnership with Ørsted is an important step in that journey.”
Duncan Clark, of UK and Ireland at Ørsted, added: “This partnership combines complementary strengths relevant to development in this market and creates an ideal platform for Ørsted to bring its global expertise in the delivery of offshore wind to bear in Ireland.
“From the world’s first offshore turbine in Denmark in 1991 to the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2 in the UK, Ørsted has been a driving force behind the commercialisation of the offshore wind industry across Europe, Asia, and America as part of our vision to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.”