Question 1

What is offshore renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Offshore renewable energy draws on the natural energy provided by wind, wave and tide to convert it into electricity for industry and domestic consumption.

Question 2

Which resource has the most advanced technology?

Accepted Answer

Offshore wind is the most advanced technology, using fixed wind turbines in coastal areas, while floating wind is a developing technology more suited to deeper water. In 2018, offshore wind provided a tiny fraction of global electricity supply, but it is set to expand strongly in the coming decades into a USD 1 trillion business, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). It says that turbines are growing in size and in power capacity, which in turn is "delivering major performance and cost improvements for offshore wind farms".

Question 3

How big is offshore wind?

Accepted Answer

The global offshore wind market grew nearly 30% per year between 2010 and 2018, according to the IEA, due to rapid technology improvements, It calculated that about 150 new offshore wind projects are in active development around the world. Europe in particular has fostered the technology's development, led by Britain, Germany and Denmark, but China added more capacity than any other country in 2018.

Question 4

How many offshore fixed and floating wind farms are planned for Irish waters?

Accepted Answer

A report for the Irish Wind Energy Assocation (IWEA) by the Carbon Trust – a British government-backed limited company established to accelerate Britain's move to a low carbon economy - says there are currently 14 fixed-bottom wind energy projects, four floating wind projects and one project that has yet to choose a technology at some stage of development in Irish waters. Some of these projects are aiming to build before 2030 to contribute to the 5GW target set by the Irish government, and others are expected to build after 2030. These projects have to secure planning permission, obtain a grid connection and also be successful in a competitive auction in the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).

Question 5

How do wind farms connect to the national grid?

Accepted Answer

The electricity generated by each turbine is collected by an offshore electricity substation located within the wind farm. Seabed cables connect the offshore substation to an onshore substation on the coast. These cables transport the electricity to land from where it will be used to power homes, farms and businesses around Ireland. The offshore developer works with EirGrid, which operates the national grid, to identify how best to do this and where exactly on the grid the project should connect.

Question 6

What is the planning regime in Ireland for offshore wind?

Accepted Answer

The new Marine Planning and Development Management Bill will create a new streamlined system for planning permission for activity or infrastructure in Irish waters or on the seabed, including offshore wind farms. It is due to be published before the end of 2020 and enacted in 2021.

Question 7

Who are the main investors in Irish offshore wind?

Accepted Answer

There are a number of companies aiming to develop offshore wind energy off the Irish coast and some of the larger ones would be ESB, SSE Renewables, Energia, Statkraft and RWE.

Question 8

Is there scope for community involvement in offshore wind?

Accepted Answer

There are a number of companies aiming to develop offshore wind energy off the Irish coast and some of the larger ones would be ESB, SSE Renewables, Energia, Statkraft and RWE. Is there scope for community involvement in offshore wind? The IWEA says that from the early stages of a project, the wind farm developer "should be engaging with the local community to inform them about the project, answer their questions and listen to their concerns". It says this provides the community with "the opportunity to work with the developer to help shape the final layout and design of the project". Listening to fishing industry concerns, and how fishermen may be affected by survey works, construction and eventual operation of a project is "of particular concern to developers", the IWEA says. It says there will also be a community benefit fund put in place for each project. It says the final details of this will be addressed in the design of the RESS (see below) for offshore wind but it has the potential to be "tens of millions of euro over the 15 years of the RESS contract". The Government is also considering the possibility that communities will be enabled to invest in offshore wind farms though there is "no clarity yet on how this would work", the IWEA says.

Question 9

What is the projected generating capacity from offshore wind in Irish waters?

Accepted Answer

Based on current plans, it would amount to around 12 GW of offshore wind energy. However, the IWEA points out that is unlikely that all of the projects planned will be completed. The industry says there is even more significant potential for floating offshore wind off Ireland's west coast and the Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a long-term plan for at least 30 GW of floating offshore wind in our deeper waters.

Question 10

How high are the wind turbines offshore?

Accepted Answer

There are many different models of turbines. The larger a turbine, the more efficient it is in producing electricity at a good price. In choosing a turbine model the developer will be conscious of this ,but also has to be aware the impact of the turbine on the environment, marine life, biodiversity and visual impact. As a broad rule an offshore wind turbine will have a tip-height of between 165m and 215m tall. However, turbine technology is evolving at a rapid rate with larger more efficient turbines anticipated on the market in the coming years.

Question 11

What is the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme or RESS

Accepted Answer

The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme is designed to support the development of renewable energy projects in Ireland. Under the scheme wind farms and solar farms compete against each other in an auction with the projects which offer power at the lowest price awarded contracts. These contracts provide them with a guaranteed price for their power for 15 years. If they obtain a better price for their electricity on the wholesale market they must return the difference to the consumer.

Question 12

Does RESS apply to offshore wind farming?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The first auction for offshore renewable energy projects is expected to take place in late 2021.

Question 13

What is the difference between fixed and floating offshore wind farms?

Accepted Answer

Cost is one difference, and technology is another. Floating wind farm technology is relatively new, but allows use of deeper water. Ireland's 50-metre contour line is the limit for traditional bottom-fixed wind farms, and it is also very close to population centres, which makes visibility of large turbines an issue - hence the attraction of floating structures Do offshore wind farms pose a navigational hazard to shipping? Inshore fishermen do have valid concerns. One of the first steps in identifying a site as a potential location for an offshore wind farm is to identify and assess the level of existing marine activity in the area and this particularly includes shipping. The National Marine Planning Framework aims to create, for the first time, a plan to balance the various kinds of offshore activity with the protection of the Irish marine environment. This is expected to be published before the end of 2020, and will set out clearly where is suitable for offshore renewable energy development and where it is not - due, for example, to shipping movements and safe navigation.

Question 14

Do offshore wind farms pose a hazard to wildlife and what mitigation measures are in place?

Accepted Answer

Environmental organisations are concerned about the impact of turbines on bird populations, particularly migrating birds. A Danish scientific study published in 2019 found evidence that larger birds were tending to avoid turbine blades, but said it didn't have sufficient evidence for smaller birds – and cautioned that the cumulative effect of farms could still have an impact on bird movements. A full environmental impact assessment has to be carried out before a developer can apply for planning permission to develop an offshore wind farm. This would include desk-based studies as well as extensive surveys of the population and movements of birds and marine mammals, as well as fish and seabed habitats. If a potential environmental impact is identified the developer must, as part of the planning application, show how the project will be designed in such a way as to avoid the impact or to mitigate against it.

Question 15

How many people are typically employed on an offshore wind farm?

Accepted Answer

A typical 500 MW offshore wind farm would require an operations and maintenance base which would be on the nearby coast. Such a project would generally create between 80-100 fulltime jobs, according to the IWEA. There would also be a substantial increase to in-direct employment and associated socio-economic benefit to the surrounding area where the operation and maintenance hub is located.

Question 16

What are the training routes to becoming involved in offshore wind?

Accepted Answer

The recent Carbon Trust report for the IWEA, entitled Harnessing our potential, identified significant skills shortages for offshore wind in Ireland across the areas of engineering financial services and logistics. The IWEA says that as Ireland is a relatively new entrant to the offshore wind market, there are "opportunities to develop and implement strategies to address the skills shortages for delivering offshore wind and for Ireland to be a net exporter of human capital and skills to the highly competitive global offshore wind supply chain". Offshore wind requires a diverse workforce with jobs in both transferable (for example from the oil and gas sector) and specialist disciplines across apprenticeships and higher education. IWEA have a training network called the Green Tech Skillnet that facilitates training and networking opportunities in the renewable energy sector.

Question 17

What types of employment are available?

Accepted Answer

It is expected that developing the 3.5 GW of offshore wind energy identified in the Government's Climate Action Plan would create around 2,500 jobs in construction and development and around 700 permanent operations and maintenance jobs. The Programme for Government published in 2020 has an enhanced target of 5 GW of offshore wind which would create even more employment. The industry says that in the initial stages, the development of offshore wind energy would create employment in conducting environmental surveys, community engagement and development applications for planning. As a site moves to construction, people with backgrounds in various types of engineering, marine construction and marine transport would be recruited. Once the site is up and running , a project requires a team of turbine technicians, engineers and administrators to ensure the wind farm is fully and properly maintained, as well as crew for the crew transfer vessels transporting workers from shore to the turbines.

Question 18

How important could offshore wind energy be?

Accepted Answer

The IEA says that today's offshore wind market "doesn't even come close to tapping the full potential – with high-quality resources available in most major markets". It estimates that offshore wind has the potential to generate more than 420 000 Terawatt hours per year (TWh/yr) worldwide – as in more than 18 times the current global electricity demand. One Terawatt is 114 megawatts, and to put it in context, Scotland it has a population a little over 5 million and requires 25 TWh/yr of electrical energy.

Question 19

How advanced is wave technology for renewable energy?

Accepted Answer

Not as advanced as wind, with anchoring a big challenge – given that the most effective wave energy has to be in the most energetic locations, such as the Irish west coast. Britain, Ireland and Portugal are regarded as most advanced in developing wave energy technology. The prize is significant, the industry says, as there are forecasts that varying between 4000TWh/yr to 29500TWh/yr. Europe consumes around 3000TWh/year.

Question 20

How is the Irish industry represented?

Accepted Answer

The industry has two main umbrella organisations – the Irish Wind Energy Association, which represents both onshore and offshore wind, and the Marine Renewables Industry Association, which focuses on all types of renewable in the marine environment.


Overall Club Points	After Skibbereen Regatta
1	U.C.D. BC	187
2	Skibbereen RC	119
3	Shandon BC	107
4	St. Michaels Rowing Club	103
5	Dublin University Ladies BC	94
6	Cork BC	92
7	NUI Galway BC	82
8	Commercial RC	72
9	Neptune RC	71
10	Dublin University BC	55
11	Muckross RC	53
12	U.C.C. RC	49
13	University of Limerick RC	47.5
14	Carlow RC	46
15	St. Josephs College RC	43
16	Shannon RC	41
17	Fermoy RC	40
18	Clonmel RC	32
19	Athlunkard BC	29
20	Lee RC	29
21	Galway RC	20
22	Killorglin RC	18.5
23	Cappoquin	17
24	Tralee RC	17
25	Three Castles Rowing Club	15
26	Garda Siochana BC	14
27	Colaiste Chiarain RC	12
28	Lee Valley RC	12
29	Workmens RC	12
30	Old Collegians BC (Walshe)	10
31	Presentation College RC	10
32	Graiguenamanagh BC	9
33	Fossa RC	7
34	Grainne Mhaol RC	4
35	Castleconnell BC	1


Mens Division 1	After Skibbereen Regatta
1	U.C.D. BC	74
2	Skibbereen RC	65
3	Neptune RC	39
4	Dublin University BC	30
5	Carlow RC	28
6	Commercial RC	28
7	Lee RC	24
8	Cork BC	22
9	NUI Galway BC	22
10	Muckross RC	21
11	St. Josephs College RC	17
12	University of Limerick RC	17
13	St. Michaels Rowing Club	15
14	Lee Valley RC	12
15	Shandon BC	12
16	Presentation College RC	10
17	Fossa RC	7
18	Garda Siochana BC	6
19	U.C.C. RC	6
20	Workmens RC	5
21	Grainne Mhaol RC	4
22	Three Castles Rowing Club	3
23	Clonmel RC	1


Mens Division 2	After Skibbereen Regatta
1	St. Michaels Rowing Club	38
2	Cork BC	33
3	Neptune RC	32
4	U.C.D. BC A	27
5	St. Josephs College RC	26
6	Dublin University BC	25
7	Shannon RC	24
8	Shandon BC	23
9	U.C.C. RC	23
10	Fermoy RC	21
11	Athlunkard BC	17
12	Carlow RC	12
13	Cappoquin RC	11
14	University of Limerick RC	11
15	Commercial RC	9
16	Skibbereen RC	9
17	Tralee RC	9
18	Workmens RC	7
19	Clonmel RC	6
20	Graiguenamanagh BC	6
21	NUI Galway BC	6
22	Lee RC	5
23	Colaiste Chiarain RC	4
24	Muckross RC	1


Womens Division 1	After Skibbereen Regatta
1	U.C.D. BC	61
2	Dublin University Ladies BC	47
3	Skibbereen RC	45
4	Shandon BC	40
5	St. Michaels Rowing Club	38
6	NUI Galway BC	29
7	Muckross RC	23
8	Killorglin RC	14.5
9	Three Castles Rowing Club	12
10	Old Collegians BC	10
11	University of Limerick RC	9.5
12	Clonmel RC	9
13	Cork BC	9
14	U.C.C. RC	9
15	Athlunkard BC	1


Womens Division 2	After Skibbereen Regatta
1	Dublin University Ladies BC	47
2	Commercial	35
3	Shandon BC	33
4	Cork BC	28
5	NUI Galway BC	25
6	U.C.D. BC	25
7	Galway RC	20
8	Fermoy RC	19
9	Shannon RC	17
10	Clonmel RC	16
11	St. Michaels Rowing Club	12
12	Athlunkard BC	11
13	U.C.C. RC	11
14	University of Limerick RC	10
15	Colaiste Chiarain	8
16	Garda Siochana BC	8
17	Muckross RC	8
18	Tralee RC	8
19	Cappoquin	6
20	Carlow RC	6
21	Killorglin RC	4
22	Graiguenamanagh	3
23	Castleconnell BC	1

Grand League Series Final Points Table 2011
Position	Overall Final Points Table after Skibbereen, Queens, Metro and Cork Regattas 2011	Points
1	Skibbereen RC	664
2	U.C.D. BC	350
3	St. Michaels Rowing Club	329
4	Commercial RC	325
5	Neptune RC	319
6	Cork Boat Club	195
7	Bann RC	175
8	Dublin University BC	165
9	Shandon BC	164
10	Dublin University Ladies BC	151
11	Lee RC	150
12	NUI Galway BC	128
13	Queens University Belfast BC	118
14	Muckross RC	117
15	Shannon RC	116
16	Castleconnell BC	104
17	Portora Boat Club	102
18	Methodist College RC	91
19	Queens University Belfast Ladies BC	89
20	Fermoy RC	86
21	Carrick-on-Shannon RC	80
22	University of Limerick RC	77
23	Clonmel RC	75
24	Carlow RC	74
25	U.C.C. RC	68
26	Galway RC	66
27	Killorglin RC	62.5
28	Garda Siochana BC	54.5
29	Three Castles Rowing Club	53
30	Old Collegians BC	49
31	Cappoquin BC	47
32	St. Josephs College RC	43
33	Presentation College RC	37
34	Lee Valley RC	32
35	Coleraine Academical Institution Boat Club	30
36	Athlunkard BC	29
37	R.B.A.I. Rowing Club	28
38	Tralee RC	26
39	Fossa RC	23
40	Colaiste Chiarain RC	20
41	Grainne Mhaol RC	16
42	Belfast RC	12
42	Workmens RC	12
44	Lagan Scullers Club	11
45	Lady Elizabeth BC	10
46	Graiguenamanagh BC	9
47	Tribesmen RC	8
48	Bantry BC	6
48	Offaly RC	6
50	Blackrock College RC	5
51	Portadown BC	2



Position	Universities in the Grand League: Final Points Table
1	UCD	350
2	Trinity	315
3	Queens	207
4	NUIG	128
5	UL	77
6	UCC	68


Position	Top Provincial Clubs in Final Grand League Points Table
1	Skibbereen RC	664
2	U.C.D. BC	350
7	Bann RC	175
12	NUI Galway BC	128


	Grand League Series Final Points Mens Division 1
Mens Division 1	Final Points After Skibbereen, Queens, Metro and Cork Regattas 2011	Points
1	Skibbereen RC	287
2	U.C.D. BC	125
3	Neptune RC	122
4	Commercial RC	91
5	St. Michaels Rowing Club	84
6	Dublin University BC	83
6	Queens University Belfast BC	83
8	Lee RC	64
9	Carlow RC	56
10	NUI Galway BC	56
11	Castleconnell BC	51
12	Bann RC	50
13	Muckross RC	43
14	Portora Boat Club	37
15	Presentation College RC	31
16	University of Limerick RC	28.5
17	Methodist College RC	25
18	Lee Valley RC	24
19	Fossa RC	23
19	Three Castles Rowing Club	23
21	Cork BC	22
22	Garda Siochana BC	17.5
23	St. Josephs College RC	17
24	Grainne Mhaol RC	16
24	R.B.A.I. Rowing Club	16
26	U.C.C. RC	15
27	Coleraine Academical Institution Boat Club	14
28	Shandon BC	12
29	Carrick-on-Shannon RC	10
29	Lady Elizabeth BC	10
31	Belfast RC	8
32	Clonmel RC	7
33	Workmens RC	5
34	Galway RC	2

	Grand League Series Final Points Mens Division 2
Mens Division 2	Final Points After Skibbereen, Queens, Metro and Cork Regattas 2011	Points
1	St. Michaels Rowing Club	137
2	Neptune RC	120
3	Skibbereen RC	98
4	Dublin University BC	82
5	U.C.D. BC	74
6	Cork BC	73
7	Bann RC	61
8	Shandon BC	54
9	Castleconnell BC	52
10	Commercial RC	49
11	Methodist College RC	48
12	Lee RC	47
13	Fermoy RC	38
14	Queens University Belfast BC	35
15	Cappoquin RC	33
15	U.C.C. RC	33
17	Shannon RC	28
18	Portora Boat Club	27
19	St. Josephs College RC	26
20	Clonmel RC	25
21	University of Limerick RC	21
22	Galway RC	20
23	Carrick-on-Shannon RC	18
23	NUI Galway BC	18
25	Athlunkard BC	17
26	Coleraine Academical Institution Boat Club	16
27	Carlow RC	12
27	R.B.A.I. Rowing Club	12
29	Lagan Scullers Club	11
29	Tralee RC	11
31	Garda Siochana BC	8
31	Lee Valley BC	8
31	Tribesmen RC	8
34	Workmens RC	7
35	Graiguenamanagh BC	6
35	Presentation College Cork	6
37	Blackrock College RC	5
38	Colaiste Chiarain RC	4
39	Muckross RC	1

	Grand League Series Final Points Womens Division 1
Womens Division 1	Final Points After Skibbereen, Queens, Metro and Cork Regattas 2011	Points
1	Skibbereen RC	255
2	U.C.D. BC	123
3	St. Michaels Rowing Club	96
4	Dublin University Ladies BC	93
5	Neptune RC	65
6	Killorglin RC	58.5
7	Shandon BC	47
8	Muckross RC	46
9	Queens University Belfast Ladies BC	44
10	Bann RC	42
11	Commercial RC	36
12	Cork BC	32
13	Old Collegians BC	30
14	Three Castles Rowing Club	30
15	NUI Galway BC	29
16	Portora Boat Club	29
17	Carrick-on-Shannon RC	19
18	OCBC	19
19	Clonmel RC	18
20	University of Limerick RC	17.5
21	Shannon RC	9
22	Methodist College RC	8
23	Fermoy Boat Club	7
24	Offaly RC	6
25	Belfast RC	4
26	Portadown BC	2
27	Athlunkard BC	1

	Grand League Series Final Points Womens Division 2
Womens Division 2	Final Points After Skibbereen, Queens, Metro and Cork Regattas 2011	Points
1	Commercial RC	149
2	Shannon RC	79
3	Cork BC	68
4	Dublin University Ladies BC	58
5	Shandon BC	52
6	Queens University Belfast Ladies BC	45
7	Galway RC	44
8	Fermoy RC	41
9	Lee RC	39
10	U.C.D. BC	37
11	Carrick-on-Shannon RC	33
12	Garda Siochana BC	29
13	Muckross RC	27
14	Clonmel RC	25
14	NUI Galway BC	25
16	Skibbereen RC	24
17	Bann RC	22
18	Colaiste Chiarain RC	16
19	Tralee RC	15
20	Cappoquin RC	14
21	Neptune RC	12
21	St. Michaels Rowing Club	12
23	Athlunkard BC	11
23	U.C.C. RC	11
25	Methodist College RC	10
25	University of Limerick RC	10
27	Portora Boat Club	9
28	Bantry BC	6
28	Carlow RC	6
30	Killorglin RC	4
31	Graiguenamanagh BC	3
32	Castleconnell BC	1

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