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Shell Returns to Irish Energy Market after Corrib With Offshore Wind Partnership With Simply Blue Energy

By: 
Lorna Siggins - Afloat.ie

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has welcomed Irish offshore energy Simply Blue’s deal with multinational Shell to develop its floating wind farm in the Celtic Sea.

Simply Blue Energy and Shell confirmed today that the multinational is acquiring a 51 per cent share in the Emerald project off Kinsale, Co Cork.

It represents Shell’s first return to the Irish energy market since it sold off its controversial Corrib Gas project in North Mayo.

Simply Blue Energy says the joint venture will use floating wind technology to develop 300MW of installed capacity initially.

As Afloat reported last July, the Irish renewable energy company was exploring the development of this island's first floating offshore wind farm close to the Kinsale gas field.

It says it will have the potential to scale-up to a total installed capacity of 1GW - equivalent to powering 800,000 Irish homes or the capacity of the Moneypoint power station, Ireland’s largest electricity generation station, it says.

Floating wind technology can be installed in deeper waters than fixed wind turbines allowing this project to be placed 35km – 60km offshore, reducing visual impacts, it points out.

It says that “depending on the size of turbines selected, the first phase of the project will include between 15 and 25 turbines”.

“The assembly, installation and deployment of these turbines could stimulate hundreds of high-quality jobs in the local supply chain,”it says, with long-term operations and maintenance of the turbines requiring local skills and services in Cork harbour for “up to 25 years”.

Colin Crooks, Shell’s vice-president for offshore wind, said in a statement: “At Shell we aim to build an integrated power business spanning electricity generation, trading and supply.”

“This project could provide green power to consumers and businesses alike and contribute towards Shell’s ambition to be a net-zero emissions business by 2050, or sooner,” he said

“Working alongside coastal communities to create shared value is key to success and this is why we have chosen and look forward to working with Simply Blue Energy who are rooted in the local community,” he said

Simply Blue Energy chief executive Sam Roch-Perks said that floating wind energy is a major opportunity for Ireland to become a “Green Gulf”, by “realising the benefits of its vast marine and offshore wind resources without negatively impacting our beautiful coastlines”.

“Our shared vision for Emerald is to do the right thing for our stakeholders, the community and the environment,” he said.

“ This announcement represents an important milestone in the ability of the Emerald project to ensure the government meets its climate target of 5GW of offshore wind by 2030,” he said.

Posted Date: 
28 January 2021