Madrid-based Ocean Winds has turned to state-owned Bord na Móna as its partner for becoming involved in Ireland’s offshore wind energy sector.
Ocean Winds is a 50-50 joint venture owned by Spain’s EDP Renewables and French company ENGIE.
When EDP and ENGIE combined their offshore wind assets and project pipeline to create OW in 2019, the company had 1.5GW under construction and 4.0GW under development. In 2022, OW’s offshore wind gross capacity already operating, in construction or with advanced development rights granted was 14.6GW.
In Ireland, Ocean Winds is proposing the development of two offshore wind farms located in the Irish Sea, Realt na Mara (1.6GW) and Celtic Horizon (700MW), for which it has started research, permitting and local public participation events.
The projects have the potential to generate sufficient electricity to power 2 million homes, if they ever get through Ireland’s labyrinthine permitting process.
In Association with
Grzegorz Gorski, COO of Ocean Winds, stated: “This joint venture today with Bord na Móna is the perfect pairing of our international expertise with Bord na Móna’s long history working in local communities in Ireland.
“OW has a strong track record of using our strength as global leaders in the renewables sector to create opportunities for local companies who want to expand and diversify into the emerging offshore wind sector.”
Bord na Móna chief executive Tom Donnellan described the JV as “a giant leap forward towards energy independence for Ireland”.
No details were provided on possible timelines for the wind farm developments or how the projects will be financed.
Photo: Dan Finch (left), UK and Ireland Country Manager of Ocean Winds, with Tom Donnellan. (Pic: Jason Clarke)
