Belfast Harbour is the only port on the island of Ireland that is ready to be used to construct offshore wind farms, Wind Energy Ireland's National Ports Study has found.
The report, produced by Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions, is the most detailed analysis ever carried out on the readiness of Irish ports for the development of offshore renewable energy with analysis of infrastructure at 13 ports and harbours.
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, casts doubt on government's goal of increasing offshore wind capacity to seven gigawatts by 2030 without more ports capable of building offshore wind projects.
“We want to build Irish offshore wind farms in Irish ports. Our members – both ports and developers – are absolutely united on this. That is the best way to create jobs at home and to deliver offshore wind energy at the lowest possible price," said Cunniffe.
“But we cannot build 7 GW of offshore wind energy by the end of 2030 if we only have a single port on the island suitable for building offshore wind farms. We need to be able to build more than one offshore wind project at the same time if we are to have any chance to deliver the carbon emissions cuts that the Government wants and that climate action requires.
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“We know Minister Eamon Ryan is taking this seriously," he added. "Last year’s Government policy statement on offshore wind and commercial ports, combined with the new Offshore Wind Delivery Task Force, show an increased focus on delivery from the Department of Transport, the IMDO and other State agencies.
“But with only eight years to deliver 7 GW of offshore wind energy there is growing concern throughout industry that projects may have to be built from outside of Ireland or will need to wait for availability in Belfast.”
Wind Energy Ireland has called for greater funding to be made available by the government in the form of direct Exchequer funding, a low-interest loan scheme or access to the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank in order to derisk the level of upfront investment and plug any funding gaps.
The body has also asked for clarity on offshore planning systems and next year’s offshore renewable auction to give developers and investors confidence in infrastructure plans brought forward by the ports.
Finally, Wind Energy Ireland has asked for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to instruct An Bord Pleanála to prioritise planning applications related to renewable energy, including port infrastructure.
The ports and harbours examined in the report were, in alphabetical order, Belfast D1, Belfast Harland & Wolff, Bremore, Cork Dockyard, Foynes Island, Galway, Killybegs, Larne, Moneypoint, Port of Cork (Ringaskiddy), Ros an Mhíl, Rosslare Europort and Shannon-Foynes.
The report was co-funded by a number of Wind Energy Ireland members: Belfast Harbour, DP Energy, ESB, Inis Offshore Wind, Ocean Winds, Ørsted, Source Energie and RWE.
Sarah Gibson, principal engineer with Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions and the report’s lead author, said: “Our ports have the ambition, the determination and the imagination to provide first-class infrastructure for the construction of offshore renewable energy projects.
"Ports like Rosslare, Cork Dockyard and Shannon-Foynes have already put in substantial work getting ready for offshore wind.
“Ports and developers both want this to happen. Ireland can be a base from which to build a generation of fixed-bottom and floating wind energy projects, creating thousands of jobs and ensuring that investment stays in Ireland.
“But it won’t just happen by itself. It will need government, ports and renewable energy developers working together to make this ambition a reality.”
(Pic: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
