Written answers
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
Renewable Energy Generation
Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the recent announcement from the ESB in relation to Moneypoint; the estimated number of jobs envisaged for the local community over the years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21691/21]
Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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176. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will report on the future of Moneypoint; if other options were looked into such as tidal wave energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21692/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 176 together.
ESB have informed my Department that as part of their plans to develop a green energy hub at Moneypoint, they are developing a floating wind farm of 1,400MW off the coasts of Counties Clare and Kerry in partnership with Equinor. The first phase of their two planned wind farms will be commissioned by 2028 subject to the appropriate consents and success at relevant auctions. This will contribute significantly to Ireland’s target of at least 5GW of Offshore Wind connected to the grid by 2030 and once complete, the wind farm will be capable of powering more than 1.6 million homes in Ireland. Construction of an offshore windfarm is a highly specialised activity that includes both onshore and offshore activities. Based on similar projects elsewhere, ESB estimate that employment during construction will be close to 600 people.
On an ongoing basis, ESB assess all available technologies for technical and commercial feasibility. This includes onshore and offshore wind, solar, wave and other renewable technologies.
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