Irish Port to File Planning Application for Offshore Wind Upgrade This Autumn

Ports & Logistics

June 12, 2024, by Adrijana Buljan

Rosslare Europort has started working towards submitting a planning application for the upgrade that would establish the first Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub in Ireland. The port plans to file the application and an accompanying environmental impact assessment report (EIAR) with the Irish authorities this autumn.

An aerial image showing Rosslare Europort redeveloped — Image courtesy of NASH Maritime

The work on the EIAR has already started and, on 29 May, the port opened public consultation for the project.

For the environmental impact assessment, Iarnród Éireann, the owner and operator of Rosslare Europort, appointed Nicholas O’Dwyer and Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions in August 2023.

As part of the EIAR work, NASH Maritime, a UK-based specialist shipping, navigation and maritime risk consultancy has been commissioned to perform navigation risk assessment.

NASH Maritime will undertake the navigation risk assessment and prepare the Technical NAR for inclusion as an appendix to the EIAR, and will also draft the EIAR Shipping and Navigation Chapter.

The proposed ORE hub at Rosslare Europort is planned to support the growing offshore wind sector and help meet Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind target of 7 GW.

Plans to transform the port into an Offshore Renewable Energy Hub were unveiled in 2022, when the port’s management also said the investment into realising the project was estimated at EUR 200 million.

The plan involves establishing not only the port but also its hinterland and the southeast region as an Offshore Renewable Energy Hub, which could create up to 2,000 jobs.

The development includes a purpose-built quay and berth for offshore renewable energy operations, a capital dredge to increase the depth of the navigation channel, quayside storage, and a control centre.