Displaying items by tag: Tidal Turbine

4th August 2021

Strangford Narrows Tidal Turbine Mooring System Undergoes Decommission

Glasgow based Flex Marine Power has issued a Notice to Mariners regarding its activity within the Strangford Narrows in County Down in Northern Ireland.

The turbine mooring system is being decommissioned and there is a workboat, and buoys marking the location.

Strangford Narrows is a narrow six-mile stretch of water with strong tides in the southeast of County Down leading from the Irish Sea into Strangford Lough.

The operations, which will take place between 2nd and 15th August, are part of continued research by Flex Marine Power Ltd in conjunction with Queen's University, Belfast into the performance of tidal turbine moorings in the Narrows.

The work may impede navigation as the workboat will periodically be loading and unloading at Portaferry Quay and transiting between the Quay and the location of the works.

The Notice to Mariners dated 1st August is accessible on the Bangor Marina Facebook page here

Published in Power From the Sea

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Offshore wind

ESB know the importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and delivering net zero. Ireland has a unique capability given its prime location to take advantage of the potential of offshore wind. ESB are working hard to develop offshore wind projects for the benefit of everyone across society in Ireland and the UK. This includes ongoing engagement with marine users and local communities so ESB can deliver these significant projects.

Offshore wind will play a major role globally in our fight against climate change. It will help to replace energy generated by burning fossil fuels with that from a clean, safe and secure renewable energy source. Ireland’s geographic location on the exposed edge of the Atlantic presents us with a significant opportunity to generate electricity from wind – both offshore and onshore.

Power from onshore wind farms currently provide over one-third of Ireland’s electricity needs. But, whilst its marine area is many times the size of its landmass, Ireland’s offshore wind potential is only starting to be realised. ESB have a coastline stretching over 3,000km but only one operational offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank, with a capacity of 25 MW. In contrast, Belgium’s coastline is only 63km long, but it has already developed more than 2,000 MW of offshore wind. In Great Britain, with a coastline four times the length of ours, offshore wind generation now equates to over 440 Arklow Banks, with an installed capacity of 11,0000 MW as of late 2021.

The Irish Government's target to install 5,000 MW of offshore wind capacity in our maritime area by 2030 is set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021. It also has the objective to source 80% of Ireland’s electricity needs from renewables by the same year. In line with this, ESB is applying its professional and proven engineering expertise to the challenges set within the Climate Action Plan.

ESB are committed to playing a strong role in developing Ireland’s offshore wind potential for the benefit of the people of Ireland. This will be done in consultation with marine users and local communities, and with due care for the marine environment.