400MW Floating Wind Farm Proposed off Northern Ireland Coast

France-bases TotalEnergies and Ireland's Simply Blue Group have received a nod for the Erebus floating offshore wind farm for 100 MW capacity.

Search for renewable sources of energy is gaining significant speed in Western Europe and Northern Ireland is on the forefront when it comes to capturing offshore wind energy. Possibilities of massive offshore floating wind farms, which are expected to attract investments of multi million pounds beyond the coasts of Northern Ireland, are being evaluated and some of the work is already underway with regards to key players.

A new project is likely to be commissioned by 2029.

It has been learnt that two sites in the North Channel that lie between Northern Ireland and Scotland are being assessed by offshore energy specialist SBM Offshore and the potential for a 400MW North Channel floating wind farm has been highlighted.

If the government gives the go ahead for this offshore floating wind power project, the construction of the turbines is likely to begin in 2027 and the plant is expected to be operationalised by 2029. Some 20-25 turbines will be connected through existing onshore power plants at Ballylumford and Kilroot, Northern Ireland.

400 MW energy is said to be enough to fulfil close to 13% of Northern Ireland’s energy needs. The new project will give a fillip to the offshore wind supply chain that includes logistics, marine services, construction and assembly of floating devices.

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North Channel Wind, a key player in the wind power sector, is already in discussions with the government of Northern Ireland, energy regulator UREGNI, Renewables NI, grid operator SONI and the Crown Estate. Project Director Niamh Kenny has called the geographical location a ‘sweet spot’ for a floating wind farm. This is because at this location, wind speed is good, the environment is benign and sea waves are not as fierce as to cause damage or rampant depreciation of the assets.

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Even the tides are not strong in the region that has been selected for the wind farm’s construction. All of these will culminate in reducing the project cost, says Kenny.