Ireland has the potential to become one of Europe’s leading renewable energy nations, according to Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC), which has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Norwegian Offshore Wind, a world leader in its field.
The signing of the MOU is a further endorsement of plans to transform the Shannon Estuary into an international floating offshore wind hub that will enable Ireland surpass its long-term climate change targets and, moreover, become a major global renewable energy generator.
The MOU will enable collaboration between SFPC and offshore wind interests in Norway, providing a framework for further collaboration on market activities towards both the Irish and Norwegian offshore wind market.
Moreover, the agreement provides a platform for research, development and innovation activities for both companies.
Norway is already a world leader in offshore wind and its Government recently launched a large-scale investment plan aimed at allocating sea areas to develop 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040.
“The ports in Norway and Ireland are a vital component in the supply chain in offshore wind, and are thus imperative for the countries in Northern Europe to reach their renewable ambitions,” Arvid Nesse, General Manager of Norwegian Offshore Wind, said.
“This agreement will strengthen the cooperation between the ports along the Norwegian coast and one of the hubs for floating wind in Ireland”.
Shannon Foynes Port Company Chief Executive Officer Pat Keating told the Weekly Observer: “Norway is a world leader in the development of floating wind and it’s this very technology that will enable Ireland to not alone meet its longer-term climate change targets but become an international energy hub for the first time in our history. The Shannon Estuary will be a key enabler of that because of its proximity to offshore winds and its deep waters, which are essential for supply chain.
“Ireland’s potential from floating offshore wind generation off the west coast alone stands at 70GW, which is 12 times our current installed wind capacity on land. So, what we now need to do is to realise that opportunity and being able to partner with global leaders like Norway will be a key enabler of that. Norwegian Offshore Wind’s partnership with us on this MOU reflects just how big that opportunity is, and we look forward to working closely with them to progress this mutually beneficial relationship.”