Port development key to renewable energy opportunities

IRELAND NEEDS to develop its port and shipping services or risk losing out on substantial elements of a multibillion euro renewable energy boom already under way in northwest Europe.

That is according to a report from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and the Irish Maritime Development Office.

The report, published yesterday, warns the State’s much-vaunted opportunities in offshore wind, tidal and wave energy could be curtailed because of a lack of supply services and equipment available in Irish ports.

Two years ago, turbine-maker Siemens estimated €300 billion will be invested in offshore wind farms over the next 20 years – most of it in northwestern Europe.

The report reiterated that Irish ports and shipping vessels were “well placed to benefit from the substantial ramp-up in the development”, particularly in relation to the North Sea. The value of proposed offshore wind farms in Irish coastal waters is in the order of €7 billion. The potential value of wave and tidal energy in Irish waters was estimated at €9 billion.

The report identified the east coast as best placed to support fixed offshore wind and tidal installations. The south and west coasts were best placed to support wave, fixed and floating wind installations. It warned: “We now need to look at the investment in infrastructure required if we are to properly capitalise on the current opportunities in this area”.

It recommended bringing forward a “first phase” of dedicated port locations which might be used to service offshore installations, and specified a requirement for shipping support vessels to engage with large offshore renewable energy developments. Eoin Sweeney of the authority said: “The development of appropriate port locations is critical to Ireland becoming a base for construction and assembly of wind turbines and ocean energy devices.

“We have a significant opportunity given the very large marine renewable resources available off both our east and west coasts, but we now need to look at the investment in infrastructure required if we are to properly capitalise on the current opportunities in this area.”

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said he welcomed the report’s findings that “many Irish ports have already begun to position themselves to capture a share of this market”. But he said “considerable challenges still lie ahead which will require greater co-operation between the ports, manufacturers, developers and relevant Government bodies”.

Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte said there were many technical, economic and regulatory issues to be resolved “before the full scope of Ireland’s opportunity in this sector is clear”.