Strong wind behind Rosslare Europort offshore wind energy plan as agreement signed with ESB
County Wexford Chamber welcomes wind energy agreement between Rosslare Europort and ESB, a significant step forward for Wexford. ESB aim to work with Iarnród Éireann to ensure port infrastructure is available to enable delivery of offshore wind energy plans
ESB and the port authority for Rosslare Europort, Iarnród Éireann, have today (Thursday) signed a joint ‘memorandum of understanding’ (MOU) to cooperate on both organisations’ respective development plans to support offshore wind energy in the Celtic and Irish Seas.
The ESB have been busily developing a portfolio of offshore wind farms, while Rosslare Europort has been progressing plans seeking to make the Wexford port Ireland’s offshore renewables hub.
This latest agreement seeks to form a collaborative effort and a pooling of resources to further the development plans of both the ESB network and Rosslare Europort.
Although a non-exclusive agreement, the deal sets out both organisations’ intention to work together to further the aim of developing a port solution capable of supporting ESB’s offshore developments in Ireland, in line with the country’s climate action targets and ESB’s ‘Net Zero by 2040’ strategy.
In 2022, Rosslare Europort management announced plans to establish the port, its hinterland and the south-east region as Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Hub, with the potential to create up to 2,000 jobs.
The port is uniquely located within 60-100 nautical miles of most of the planned developments in the Irish and Celtic seas, including many of the portfolio of OWF projects being developed by ESB within Ireland.
Among the key points of the €220 million plan in the area of Offshore Renewable Energy for Rosslare are a new purpose-built quay and berth; quayside storage and pre-construction area of around 50 acres; a navigable channel dredged down to a minimum 9 to 11 metre depth and a Management Control Centre and management offices and facilities for operations and maintenance.
Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers was present for the official signing of the agreement and has described it as “a welcome demonstration of the collaboration and commitment by these two commercial entities in delivering on our ORE ambitions”.