Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has declared that the “future is offshore” as he launched new projects that could power over two million homes by the end of the decade.
Ocean Winds and Bord na Móna launched a major new offshore wind partnership in Dun Laoghaire today.
The joint venture includes two potential projects, Réalt na Mara, off the coast of Dublin and Wicklow, and Celtic Horizon, off the coast of Wexford and Waterford.
The companies will now engage with local communities, stakeholders and the fishing industry about the two projects
If the projects do go ahead, they have the potential to generate up to 2.3 gigawatts of clean and renewable electricity.
This could power up to 2.1 million homes by 2030.
The Tánaiste said that the new project showed the Government’s ambition to transition to renewable energy.
“[This is] a really significant partnership, a partnership between Bord na Móna, a state-owned energy company, and Ocean Winds, which is one of the largest international offshore wind energy generators,” Mr Varadkar said.
“[Ocean Winds] generates more electricity than every power station in Ireland combined.
“This is a really significant partnership for Ireland. It speaks to our ambition to provide 80% of all of our electricity from renewable sources by the end of the decade and within a generation to become a net exporter of energy to the world.
“This is a really positive announcement. We've made so much progress when it comes to renewable energy onshore, but the future is offshore.
“That's the next big step allowing us to produce most of our power from renewable sources and all of the benefits that come with that in terms of energy security, price stability and jobs and investment.
“It is a big day and I’m really excited about it.”
The Tánaiste said that the Government must now ensure that the regulatory system in Ireland is right and allow those who are willing to invest in offshore wind to “get planning permission and consents” in order to progress projects.
Mr Varadkar also said that the project marks a “new chapter” for Bord na Móna as it moves away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy.
Tom Donnellan, Bord na Móna’s Chief Executive, also said that the project is part of a “giant leap forward towards energy independence for Ireland”.
“The projects we will develop will be of such a large scale that Ireland will be able to rely on Irish energy sources and massively reduce dependence on foreign pollutants including gas and oil,” he added.
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