ESB and Shannon Foynes Port have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop the Shannon Estuary on Ireland’s west coast into a major centre for the deployment of floating offshore wind.
Shannon Foynes Port has statutory jurisdiction over all marine activities on the estuary.
In the agreement, Shannon Foynes Port and ESB have committed to working closely together to “maximise the unique potential” of the Shannon Estuary thanks to its mix of deepwater, development lands, low-lying shoreline, and proximity to what is one of the world’s most consistent wind resources off Ireland’s west coast.
Under this MoU, the parties will collaborate to ensure that ESB’s Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint project and the port authority’s projects will be developed in a coordinated manner in the national interest with a common goal of maximising the opportunity for the estuary and wider Mid-West region.
The MoU follows the publication late last year of Shannon Foynes Port’s Vision 2041 masterplan for the wider estuary, which identified three key growth areas: delivering floating offshore wind at international scale, green industrial development transition, and expanded, diversified and more sustainable logistics.
ESB is undertaking a multi-billion-euro redevelopment project at its Moneypoint site to include significant amounts of offshore wind coupled with the production of hydrogen and other green derivatives.
As an enabler to the Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint project, an offshore wind construction hub will be developed which will facilitate the fabrication and assembly of floating offshore wind platforms.
The MoU is in line with the identification in Shannon Foynes Port’s masterplan of the development of four core facilities at the estuary to support the delivery of floating offshore wind at scale.
These include substructure assembly at Moneypoint, as well as turbine integration and pre-commissioning at Foynes port, wet storage at various locations within the estuary and an operations and maintenance base also at Foynes.
Shannon Foynes Port’s plans centre on the development of a new deepwater port at Foynes Island, which will be linked directly to the national transport network via a direct restored rail and new road link.
Minister of State with responsibility for Office of Public Works and the Gaeltacht, Patrick O’Donovan TD, said: “As Ireland continues to develop transformational renewable energy projects in order to meet our ambitious climate action targets, I am delighted to be here today to see the plans that ESB and Shannon Foynes Port have to realise the potential of the Shannon Estuary and wider region as a hub for clean energy.”
Shannon Foynes Port chief executive, Pat Keating, said: “As the maritime authority for the estuary, we are focused on ensuring the unrivalled opportunity arising from one of the world’s best wind regimes and proximity of our deep waters is maximised for the national interest.
“The ESB through its Green Atlantic @ Moneypoint project is a key constituent in the transformation of the wider estuary and we look forward to doing whatever we can to ensure this essential project is realised.”