ESB and Equinor
ESB has entered into a partnership with Equinor, a Norwegian-based energy company to identify suitable sites for new offshore windfarms in Irish waters and work to mature potential future wind projects. The potential for energy storage technology and other technologies to complement offshore wind operations will also be examined.
It is the ambition of the partnership to explore opportunities for large scale wind projects towards commercial operation by 2030, thus contributing to the wider goals of the Irish Government on energy transition. Fore more information, click here.
ESB and Parkwind
Parkwind and ESB have reached an agreement to kick start the offshore wind generation industry in the Republic of Ireland through ESB’s acquisition of up to 35 per cent in the Oriel project.
The Oriel project, located in the Irish Sea off the coast of Dundalk, has a capacity of up to 330MW and is planned to begin commercial operations in the early-2020s.
Once operational, the Oriel Windfarm will generate enough capacity to cover the needs of approximately 280,000 households - most of the population in counties Louth and Meath. Oriel will furthermore contribute to the reduction of Ireland’s carbon emissions by 600,000 tonnes per annum.
ESB and Parkwind will also work together on the Clogherhead project for which ESB holds a foreshore license to commence site investigations. Parkwind will acquire up to 35 per cent of the Clogherhead project which is intended to be developed as a unique development, under a separate planning application.
For more information, click here.
Development of Neart na Gaoithe wind farm
ESB has acquired a 50 percent stake in the Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) offshore wind farm project from EDF Renewables.
NnG has a capacity of c. 450 megawatts of low carbon energy and will offset over 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. Construction of components is now underway, offshore construction will start in June 2020 and full commissioning will complete in 2023. For more information, click here.