Shannon Foynes Port's strategic review highlights floating wind

By: James Bernthal-Hooker 10/11/2022 Shannon Foynes Port

General Ports Windfarms

The Shannon Foynes Port in Ireland has released a strategic review of its Vision 2041, highlighting the Shannon Estuary’s “unique” suitability for offshore wind.

Vision 2041 was launched in 2013, eyeing a horizon of around 30 years. The strategic review updates the vision, bearing in mind “the sea change of opportunities and obligations around climate action”. Key drivers for future growth identified in the review include, as well as e-fuels and diversified logistics, delivering floating offshore wind at scale.

“On a national scale, the Shannon Estuary’s natural attributes make it uniquely suited to develop the supply chain for FLOW and related green industries”, said Patrick Keating, CEO of the Shannon Foynes Port Company.

Introducing the review, Keating noted that, “with regard to infrastructure, a new deep water port at Foynes Island and a strategy for the development of the offshore grid … are critical and should be in place by 2028 … to enable the sector to mobilise and meet net zero obligations by 2050.”

The review identifies some marine cable corridors, which could provide routes to develop the grid. There are three phases to developing the facility’s grid connection, according to the review: Phase 1 (2026-2030) sees building an O&M base and upgrading local/regional grids. Phase 2 (2031-2035) involves more port facilities and HVDC connection to Europe. Phase 3 (2036-2050) is based around a “SuperGrid connection,” linking Atlantic offshore wind power to European demand entirely offshore.

70 GW of offshore wind potential could be developed within the Shannon Estuary, according to the review. It anticipates anything from 10 to 30 GW installed by 2050.

The Republic of Irealand is targeting 7 GW of offshore wind by 2030. It also has an informal target of 37 GW by 2050.

This story was first reported exclusively for 4C Offshore subscribers. For more information, click here. For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

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