We at Energia Group and Vårgrønn are combining our expertise to expedite offshore wind in the South East of Ireland. “Our partnership has collected an unrivalled set of environmental data enabling an accelerated delivery of offshore wind in the South East region,” says new Vårgrønn CEO, Stephen Bull.
As published in Waterford Chamber’s Network Magazine
After announcing our joint venture in August last year, our partnership has continued to advance our preparatory work for delivery of offshore wind in the southeast.
A new state-led process launched last year, ORESS 2.1, means the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications will choose the most suitable offshore wind development sites on the south coast. In May, they announced four potential development sites off the coast of Waterford and Wexford, with their draft DMAP proposal now open for public consultation.
”We are pleased to see one of the sites, Site A – Tonn Nua, overlapping almost completely with our previously proposed site, North Celtic Sea,” says Project Director for Energia and Vårgrønn’s joint venture, Eoin McPartland. “We have collected more than three years of seabird and mammal surveys on this site, as well as a comprehensive suite of seabed surveys.”
We are now continuing to advance our preparatory work for delivery of offshore wind in the lead up to the proposed ORESS 2.1 auction at the end of this year.
Advancing our environmental knowledge base
In April, we launched a FLiDAR buoy off Dunmore East harbour in Waterford, which uses laser scanning technology to measure wind conditions and further instrumentation to assess wave and currents within the offshore site. This provides crucial information to progress our engineering understanding of the project and determine the best locations for wind turbines.
“By collecting crucial new marine data now we are adding to the extensive knowledge base we have already developed, deepening our already comprehensive understanding of the offshore environment in this region,” says Project Director for Energia and Vårgrønn’s joint venture, Eoin McPartland.
We used Dunmore East Harbour for the deployment of the survey equipment, demonstrating the importance and potential of Waterford’s marine infrastructure in the development of offshore wind. Alongside our survey work offshore, we are continuing to engage with Dunmore East, Port of Waterford and other ports within the South East. Together with the ports we are developing an understanding of the infrastructure in place and what investments are necessary going forward.
Making Waterford an energy hub
Our expedited delivery timeframe for offshore wind can bring substantial benefits for Waterford. Abundance of clean, renewable energy would make it possible to expand local energy-intensive industry, creating jobs and increasing investment potential in the Waterford region.
“Our extensive preparatory work positions us to deliver offshore wind projects that can provide renewable energy at the earliest possible date, while safeguarding the marine environment and contributing positively to the South East region,” says Stephen Bull, CEO of Vårgrønn.
We have established strong stakeholder relations in the region including engagement programmes with local fisheries and communities over the course of our preliminary development work in the area. Energia Group and Vårgrønn are proud to be the Sustainable Energy Partners for Waterford Chamber.
We look forward to deepening our stakeholder relations as part of our partnership with Waterford Chamber seeking out opportunities to maximise the benefits of offshore wind in the South East.
A partnership of specialists
While Energia has a long-standing local presence in the South East of Ireland, Vårgrønn is working in the region for the first time. Our partnership is designed to bring together complementary expertise.
“Our specialist team at Vårgrønn works only on offshore wind. We have extensive experience in developing offshore wind projects internationally,” says Stephen Bull, Vårgrønn CEO. “Vårgrønn is now one of three partners developing the world’s largest offshore wind farm, Dogger Bank, off the Northeast of England, and we are developing Europe’s first commercial scale floating wind project in Scotland. Our supply chain relationships will support our partnership to deliver offshore wind in Ireland.”
While offshore wind is a new industry in Ireland, there are already examples of local companies in Waterford helping deliver offshore wind, including working on Dogger Bank Wind Farm in the UK.
Vårgrønn are ready to bring learnings and experience from its international offshore wind projects into the next phase of offshore wind development in Ireland. Combined with Energia Group’s extensive knowledge of the Irish energy market, our capacity to realise offshore wind in the South East is unrivalled.
Offshore Stakeholder and Communications Manager