The Department of Transport has published a Policy Statement setting out the strategy for commercial ports to facilitate offshore renewable energy activity in the seas around Ireland.

The document will also assist Ireland’s commercial TEN-T ports in applying for EU funding to develop new infrastructure.

It’s part of a series of Government measures to prepare for a massive expansion of offshore renewable energy (ORE), including the passing last week of the Maritime Area Planning Bill.

The Programme for Government set a target for 70% of electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2030 and for 5GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Climate Action Plan published on 4th November 2021 (CAP 21) has since increased the target to up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

Both plans also set out how Ireland will take advantage of the potential of at least 30GW of floating offshore wind power in our deeper waters in the Atlantic.

Given Ireland’s increased ambition in ORE and pending a review of overall national ports policy, the Department of Transport — in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) — conducted an assessment of the options for Irish State ports to facilitate the ORE sector and assist in Ireland achieving its emission reduction targets.

On receiving the recommendations of that assessment, the Minister for Transport has decided that a multi-port approach will be required.

A number of ports will be required to provide facilities for the different activities at several locations around the country and at different times for the various phases of the fixed and floating ORE developments.

The department says this will maximise the economic benefits at both regional and national level in terms of job creation and new SME enterprises in areas such as engineering, fabrication, transport and logistics, and other technologies.

Touting Ireland’s ORE resources as “one of the best…globally”, the department adds that there is very significant potential in utilising these resources to generate carbon-free renewable electricity and in time develop an export market in green energy.

Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said: “Offshore renewable energy developments will typically require both large-scale port infrastructure for project deployment and smaller-scale port facilities to provide ongoing operation and maintenance services.

“Around the Irish coast, ORE projects will develop in several phases. To meet Ireland’s target of 5GW by 2030, it is clear that more than one port will be required. This will mean new jobs and new businesses in and near our ports, to support the development of offshore wind at various locations, beginning on the east coast and expanding to the west coast at a later stage.

“This approach is best suited to deliver the offshore renewable energy targets set out in the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 21, and to position Ireland to take advantage of the economic opportunity created by the roll out of both fixed and floating offshore wind in Irish waters.

“This Policy Statement makes it clear to the offshore industry that the Government is committed to the provision of port facilities in Ireland for ORE developments, and I would encourage our TEN-T ports to apply for the EU funding that has recently been made available for this sector.”

A number of ports and private entities are already progressing plans to provide the facilities and infrastructure required to assist the ORE sector to develop in Ireland.

Plans underway include preparations for the provision of large-scale deployment facilities at Rosslare Europort and at Cork Dockyard facility (formerly Verolme Dockyard) located within the limits of the Port of Cork.

Drogheda Port is also proposing developing large-scale deepwater port facilities on the East Coast and Shannon Foynes Port Company and ESB are planning large-scale development within the Shannon Estuary.

Wicklow and Arklow have already entered arrangements with individual ORE project developers to serve as operation and maintenance bases.

The department also indicates that there will be opportunities for other ports such as the ports of Waterford, Galway, Bantry under the Port of Cork and the Fishery Harbour Centres of Ros an Mhíl, Killybegs and Castletownbere which are under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The Department of Transport says it will establish a ports co-ordination Group to coordinate port responses and maintain policy alignment.

A cross-departmental Offshore Renewable Energy Team, chaired by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, is being established to capture wider economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. This will include the identification of supporting infrastructure development and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry is developed.

The full Policy Statement Facilitation of Offshore Renewable Energy by Commercial Ports in Ireland is available to read on Gov.ie HERE.