Hydrogen Ireland welcome news that Rosslare Harbour is positioning itself to become Ireland’s Offshore Renewable Energy Hub, an ambition with the potential to create up to 2,000 jobs in the south-east.
The Rosslare Europort Offshore Wind Hub Plan was announced by port authority Iarnrod Eireann chief executive Jim Meade at a seminar in the terminal building which was attended by local, national and international industry and government representatives including Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne TD.
Rosslare management have outlined a vision to establish the port, its hinterland and the south east as the country’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) hub.
During the seminar, stakeholders discussed the economic and environmental potential of the ORE industry for the south east and the plans required to make the new vision a reality.
The Offshore Renewable Energy hub plan represents an investment estimated at €200 million, and will be supported by existing developments such as the Rosslare Europort Masterplan which includes port digitalisation.
These works will include new freight and passenger facilities, storage, export and import facilities, berth extension.
To match the port’s physical transformation, a digitalisation of systems and operations is planned to deliver a more effective and efficient port.
The Office of Public Works Project T7 is developing a permanent Border Control Post within the port, to provide the facilities and systems for all aspects of Border Control
And the new Transport Infrastructure Ireland N25 Rosslare Europort Access Road will bring improvements for port users and those living and working in the area by taking trucks out of the village and enhancing access to the port.
In total, these developments and the ORE Hub plan will see a total of €350 million invested in the port and its environs.
Ireland represents one of the best ORE resources in Europe, with a sea area of 490,000 square kilometres and Rosslare Europort is ideally positioned to serve the many offshore wind developments planned in the Irish and Celtic seas, the majority of which are located within 100 nautical miles of Rosslare.
The national Climate Action Plan targets five gigawatts from ORE by the end of 2030, and it is considered that Rosslare has unequalled advantages to support this, and to act as a new sustainable hub for the South East as it is uniquely located within 60 nautical miles of most of the planned developments.
Significant infrastructure works are required before Rosslare can deliver on the plan including an ORE purpose-built quay and berth; quayside storage and pre-construction up to 50 acres in area; a navigable channel dredged down to a minimum of nine metres depth, and a management control centre.
However, some progress has already been made – expert ORE consultations have been appointed to bring the project to planning; financial consultants have been hired to develop a detailed business case and explore funding options while an an application has been submitted to the EU Connecting Europe Facility for 50% co-funding for the studies and designs for planning, which has been supported by Government, local authorities of the southeast, Business Chambers, IBEC, Waterford Port and the Offshore Industry.
The project has the support of national and local government, industry and tourism, including the Port of Waterford
Rosslare Europort is actively engaging with all the potential developers that will be involved in OSW and have undertaken comprehensive surveys and engagements with them to understand the industry requirements and gain support for the Rosslare project.
Discussions have also taken place in relation to a potential start up facility that could be available from late 2023 at Fisherman’s Quay in the port on a limited basis. This would offer the industry some port capacity while the transition to the main facility is completed.
“Rosslare Europort has been to the forefront of our national response to some of the most critical issues we have faced in recent times”, said Jim Meade.
“Working with State Agencies, Rosslare prepared for and responded to Brexit, transforming our direct connections to the continent of Europe. In recent weeks, we have ensured the rapid and successful establishment of reception facilities for Ukrainian refugees arriving to our shores.
“Now, as we face the urgent need for decarbonisation and to ensure energy security, the board and management of Iarnród Éireann fully supports the ambitions of Rosslare Europort to be Ireland’s ORE hub.”
Glenn Carr, General Manager at Rosslare Europort said: “We have engaged extensively at European, national and regional level to understand the needs of the ORE industry.
“It is clear that not only is Rosslare Europort uniquely placed to support the development of the industry, but that this development can be a transformative one for the south-east region.
“In terms of economic potential, the South-East can be to offshore renewables what Dublin’s silicon docks are to the tech sector. The support shown by stakeholders to date, and here today in the terminal building, shows that we can achieve this as a region for the nation.”
