Into the great wide open: evaluating Irish offshore wind

Renewables growth in Ireland has been a story with one key protagonist – onshore wind. Its offshore cousin has not progressed beyond a single operational project – the 25MW Arklow Bank installation. This development lacuna has occurred despite the significant resource available offshore in Irish waters.

The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), undertaken as part of the process to develop the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP), identified a potential of 4,500MW offshore wind and 1,500MW wave and tidal sites that could be developed without significant impact on the environment.

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The marine environment is large – over 10 times the land area of Ireland according to the OREDP
Low carbon generation
Conall Bolger

Conall Bolger

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