Organizations from Ireland, Wales and Cornwall have signed a collaboration agreement to work together on progressing floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea.
The deal, signed by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Marine Energy Wales and Marine Renewables Industry Association Ireland (MRIA), includes the establishment of the Celtic Sea Alliance.
According to the signatories, the alliance is working with national, devolved and local governments on the best approach to deliver floating wind projects and has received a significant amount of support from local stakeholders.
Next steps include the formation of a Celtic Sea Offshore Wind industrial cluster, as well as continuing policy engagement to secure a pipeline of at least 1GW of floating wind in the Celtic Sea before 2030, which, in turn, is expected to attract in excess of GBP 2 billion worth of regional investment and generate new jobs.
“I welcome the launch of the Celtic Sea Alliance project and the signing of an MoU between Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. The project will acknowledge the significant opportunities floating offshore wind can bring to these regions in terms of low carbon energy, jobs and associated socio-economic impacts,” said Irish Minister of Communications, Climate Action & Environment, Richard Bruton , TD.
“Ireland’s Climate Action Plan puts in place a decarbonisation pathway to 2030, putting us on a trajectory to net zero emissions by 2050. Offshore wind will be a major component of this target and the work undertaken by the Celtic Sea Alliance will be key to realising our shared ambition of a low carbon economy.”