The Irish offshore wind industry needs strategic investment to ensure that the local supply chain can play a role in delivery of 3500MW of offshore wind by 2030, according to a new report.
The ‘Harnessing our Potential’ study by the Carbon Trust for the Irish Wind Energy Association said indigenous firms will secure around a fifth of the investment planned without any intervention.
A lack of suitable ports will mean much of the construction is carried out from overseas, added the study, which analysed a raft of onshore locations in the Republic.
Strategic investment from the state or private sector must be directed urgently into one or more east coast locations to develop offshore wind farms, including providing operations and maintenance support, concluded the report.
The government must also bring together industry, ports and local communities to develop offshore wind enterprise hubs to attract international investors and link them to Irish suppliers, said the research.
Lead author Liam Leahy of the Carbon Trust said: “Ireland has significant wind resources around its coastline and by accelerating the deployment of offshore wind farms Ireland will be able to meet its carbon reduction targets whilst benefiting from clean affordable electricity.
“Our report outlines how Ireland will become an attractive market for offshore wind investors but also lays out a series of recommendations to help the country fully capitalise on these investments.”
IWEA offshore committee chairman Peter Lefroy added: “Ireland has set a target of delivering 3.5 GW of offshore wind which presents a significant challenge given we are going from almost a standing start.
“Key to meeting that target will be building an indigenous and economically sustainable supply chain that makes a substantial contribution to the Irish exchequer and lowers the cost of electricity to the consumer.”
Peter Bouwhuis, chief executive of Dutch logistics outfit Xellz, said the company is already “substantially investing” in the port at Rosslare to serve the national offshore wind industry
“Our offshore wind supply and installation base will also have capacity for operations, maintenance and repairs bringing industry and the local community together,” he said.
“We too see the need for more than one support facility to allow for additional capacity and we are open to working with government and potential partners in Ireland to help make this happen.”