UK's Flotation Energy teams with Spaniard Cobra for gigascale wind push off Ireland
Joint venture aims to build 2.5GW of bottom-fixed and floating projects at sites off the northern European country, following breakthrough win in UK's round 4 auction
Scotland-headquartered developer Flotation Energy and Spanish partner Cobra are planning to build some 2.5GW of offshore wind off Ireland via their Offshore Wind Ltd (OWL) joint venture, aiming to build on the tie-up’s regional success in the UK round 4 auction where it was one of four winning bidders.
Construction of the Irish projects – the 1.5GW Blackwater floating array off the south-east of the country in the Celtic Sea, and the 1GW bottom-fixed Greystones in the Irish Sea – hinges on the company securing consent for the sites once Dublin finalises an energy transition legislative framework that is currently in the final stages of development.
The announcement, a Flotation Energy spokesperson said, marked a “major push… into the fast-growing Irish [offshore wind power] market”.
“Following on our success in the UK, we are keen to enter the Irish market. We know that the Irish government is strongly committed to its renewable targets and sees the opportunity for the country to become a world leader in offshore wind,” he said.
“We are excited to take this major step into Ireland. Our experience in delivering the world’s largest floating project… gives us invaluable knowledge and will be crucial to progressing quickly and making these projects a success,” said the spokesperson.
“We look forward to working with local stakeholders to make these projects a reality. Our target is to be delivering power to the Irish grid before 2030.”