Ireland's ports are set to play a pivotal role in delivering the country's offshore wind ambitions, according to Assistant Secretary for Maritime Transport at the Department of Transport, Eamonn Kelly.
Writing in Eolas magazine, Kelly says port infrastructure is a prerequisite for developing offshore renewable energy, with a Government-backed multi-port strategy designed to support projects around the Irish coast.
Around 90 per cent of Ireland's imports and exports pass through its ports, but Kelly says their role is expanding beyond trade.
"While the primary function of our ports is to facilitate maritime transport, they can do an awful lot more than that," he says. "They are not just gateways to the world of trade; they can enable other activities."
Kelly says offshore wind is a logical opportunity for Ireland, given its geography and natural resources.
"We are an island nation. We do not have significant fuel resources and we are very heavily dependent on importing fuel from abroad," he says.
"We have a lot of sea, we have a lot of wind. It is a logical choice that we should be looking to leverage these sustainable natural resources for the benefit of our country."
Under the Government's Climate Action Plan, Ireland aims to install 5GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, rising to 20GW by 2040 and 37GW by 2050.
Kelly says five offshore wind planning applications currently before An Coimisiún Pleanála represent around 3.8GW of potential generating capacity.
He stresses that no single commercial port can deliver the required infrastructure alone.
"The Government has recognised that we need a multi-port strategy. No one port is going to solve the problem in terms of building offshore renewable energy," Kelly says.
He adds that offshore wind development is likely to require sustained investment in Irish ports over the next 25 to 30 years.
Significant engineering works will be needed before many ports can support the sector. Kelly says quay walls must be strengthened to carry increasingly heavy turbine components, while berths will need to be deepened to accommodate specialist offshore construction vessels.
The Port of Cork is the most advanced, with its Ringaskiddy offshore renewable energy facility nearing completion.
"It is the first offshore wind deployment port in the State," Kelly says.
Rosslare Europort, the Port of Waterford and Shannon Foynes Port are also progressing plans to support the offshore renewable energy sector, while Belfast Harbour remains an important potential partner.
Kelly says continued cooperation between government, commercial ports, developers and investors will be essential if Ireland is to achieve its offshore wind targets.
"While we have great vision, this is not something that one individual actor, one department, or one minister can deal with," he says.
He concludes that the near-completion of Cork's offshore renewable energy facility demonstrates tangible progress, adding that work will continue to ensure Ireland has the infrastructure needed to secure its energy future.
Read much more in Eolas here
