Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions has published a review of data requirements, in the context of achieving 30GW installed capacity of offshore renewable energy in Ireland.
The report finds that achieving this ambitious target, as set out in the Program for Government 2020, will require “key enabling process changes and bespoke data collection projects”.
The report, which was commissioned by Geological Survey Ireland (GSI), a division of The Department of the Environment Climate and Communications (DECC), follows a two-year study funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) into researching the implications for offshore wind energy developments along the east coast of Ireland.
GDG’s input was to analyse the seabed conditions by interrogating different geophysical datasets as well as by collecting new geotechnical information.
The report, which is available to download from INFOMAR website, reviews INFOMAR’s current outputs and capabilities highlighting areas where additional value may be added to programme activities to support the development of offshore renewable energy in Ireland, in particular offshore wind but also other relevant technologies and associated activities.
The document is aimed at INFOMAR funding and delivery bodies (GSI, the Marine Institute, the DECC] and the offshore renewables sector, with a view to improving the understanding of how current INFOMAR programme deliverables can best be used by the Irish offshore renewables sector, plus how they could be used in the near-term and long-term.