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Bechtel delivers Shannon Foynes Port Company's Vision 2041 masterplan

By: Tom Russell 04/11/2022 Bechtel

General Ports

According to a new report, the Shannon Estuary in Ireland presents a unique opportunity and is best placed in Ireland and Europe to develop the Atlantic floating offshore wind industry and help the country reach its climate goals.

The review of the Shannon Foynes Port Company's Vision 2041 masterplan by Bechtel, an American engineering, procurement, construction, and project management company, the deep waters of the Shannon Estuary would not only facilitate the deployment of floating offshore wind at scale on Ireland's west coast but also help decongest the Irish supply chain through the provision of road and rail linked container services.

The report estimates that potential electricity generation from the Ireland's west coast winds can deliver 30 GW of floating offshore wind by 2050. Furthermore, it outlines this energy would also kick-start a new industrial ecosystem based on the production of carbon-free green electricity, hydrogen and derivatives, which will be transformational for Ireland by way of use for domestic electricity and e-fuels, electricity exports, and e-fuels exports.

The report identifies numerous advantages of the Shannon Estuary, including its 500km2 of deep water, its 1,400 ha of zoned Strategic Development Locations and, particularly, its proximity to the Atlantic's abundant offshore wind resources.

The report recommends the establishment of four core facilities on the Shannon Estuary to support the delivery of floating offshore wind at scale:
• Turbine integration and pre-commissioning at Foynes Deepwater Port;
• Substructure assembly at Moneypoint;
• Wet storage at various locations within the Estuary;
• Operations & Maintenance base at the Port of Foynes.

"This report comes at a critical moment, and we are delighted to have Bechtel supporting us. This is a roadmap for what is required to deliver the unique floating offshore wind opportunity that exists for this region, Ireland and, indeed, Europe because of the unique confluence of assets here on the Estuary and west coast," said Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port. "The mix of our world-class wind resources and the natural infrastructure, not least our deep sheltered waters, for a global manufacturing and industry base adds up to what is an unprecedented opportunity that we must capitalise on urgently to address climate change. To fully unlock these significant opportunities there are national policies in several sectors that require updating. Examples include more clarity and urgency around energy policy, enduring regime, alternative fuels and wider economic and social policies."

Mr Keating added: "Through its REPowerEU Plan, which is about reducing dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast-tracking the green transition, the EU is looking to its member states for solutions. Thankfully, Ireland has such a solution here on the Shannon Estuary and West coast, potentially one of the most significant responses from any member state."

"There is already very strong interest in our wind energy generation capacity from global players and we would anticipate already making significant inroads by the turn of the decade," said David McGarry, Chairman of Shannon Foynes Port. "This would very much be a phased programme rivalling anything on an international scale but will transition Ireland to a global renewable energy leader. It will deliver our own energy requirements through renewable resources, assisting in the transition to net-zero in the long term, but will also see Ireland become a significant exporter of energy into the bargain."

"This future proofing plan comes at a time when energy security is more important than ever. There is an increasingly strong case for investing in port infrastructure to support the growth in offshore wind, and the importance of creating local supply chains cannot be underestimated," said Michelle De Franca, Bechtel's managing director for the UK and Ireland. "Ports act as focal points during the manufacturing, installation, and operation of offshore wind farms, and Shannon Foynes is strategically ideal to support Ireland's offshore wind industry, as well as expand to play an even greater role in European shipping. Our work also illustrates that the development of a green hydrogen-based ecosystem in the Shannon Estuary is possible. The production of green hydrogen here will be a much-needed boost to European energy security and will be transformational for Ireland."

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Bechtel delivers Shannon Foynes Port Company's Vision 2041 masterplan

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