DP Energy and Iberdrola have started a sponsorship deal for the Native Oyster Reef Restoration Ireland (NORRI) project through their joint venture Shelmalere Offshore Wind Farm, off the east coast.
The sponsorship deal will provide funding for the habitat restoration and conservation of oyster reef habitats by NORRI at two sites located off the Murrough in Wicklow Town and off the Arklow North/South coastal area.
DP Energy entered into a joint venture with Iberdrola in February 2021 for a 3GW pipeline of offshore wind projects.
Located off the coasts of Wicklow and Wexford, the Shelmalere Offshore Wind Farm is a 1GW fixed-bottom offshore wind project.
The Shelmalere project is in its early development stage, with ecology surveys underway and site investigation surveys being planned.
The project is planned to be operational by 2030 and will contribute to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan target of 80% renewable electricity by 2030.
Yvonne Cronin, DP Energy’s community and stakeholder liaison manager, said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the NORRI project and to be involved with the brilliant work that is done by the NORRI Team.
“This is a long-term commitment by DP Energy to the biodiversity of the East Coast and underlines the commitment that the Shelmalere Offshore Wind Farm through DP Energy and Iberdrola has for an ethical and sustainable approach to offshore wind development.”
Anamarija Frankić, on behalf of the NORRI project, said: “NORRI has been working with local community stakeholders, and through this collaboration with DP Energy and Iberdrola, we are going to be able to implement the first pilot native oyster reef restoration project in Arklow.”