Offshore Wind Developer Establishes Foothold in Ireland

Ocean Winds (OW) is evaluating the expansion of its global offshore wind portfolio to include Ireland.

The offshore wind developer has established Cailleach Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, a project delivery company which has submitted a Foreshore Application Licence Application to undertake site investigations for the potential development of an offshore wind farm 13 kilometres from the shore at Co. Wicklow in Ireland.

The proposed wind farm aims to take advantage of the offshore wind resource opportunity in the Irish Sea, off the coast of counties Dublin and Wicklow.

The surveys will enable OW to determine the ground conditions and ascertain the metocean conditions on site which will feed into the future design of the wind farm.

The timeline for the survey programme is designed to ensure that the Cailleach Offshore Wind Farm is well-positioned to bid into upcoming offshore-specific RESS auctions in Ireland, the developer said.

Cailleach is the first in a number of Irish sites which OW is examining, and the Foreshore Licence is required to enable preliminary site investigations to be undertaken, and development potential assessed.

”In June 2019, The Irish Government announced their Climate Action Plan, with a target of generating 70% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with at least 3.5GW of offshore wind. In June this was increased to 5GW,” OW CEO Spyridon Martinis said.

”In the neighbouring UK market, OW will soon reach completion of the 950MW Moray East offshore Windfarm, which was ground-breaking in terms of technology and cost. We look forward to the opportunity of working in Ireland and maximising the potential of offshore wind technology in a new geography.”

Ocean Winds currently has 1.5 GW under construction and 4 GW under development in its offshore wind portfolio.

The company is a joint venture between Engie and EDPR established in 2020. Its target is to reach 5 GW to 7 GW of projects in operation or under construction, and 5 GW to 10 GW under advanced development by 2025.