CORK, 2 June 2023: ESB, Ireland’s leading utility, and Ørsted, the world leader in offshore wind, have signed an agreement to jointly develop an Irish offshore wind portfolio in a landmark deal.
The agreement was launched this morning in Cork Chamber’s Fitzgerald House by Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD, ESB’s Jim Dollard, and Duncan Clark, Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted.
With the agreement, which marks the most ambitious partnership in Ireland to date, Ørsted becomes a 50/50 partner in a pipeline of offshore wind development projects off the Irish coast. The partnership has the potential to deliver up to five gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy and complementary renewable hydrogen projects, and the first of these offshore wind projects are expected to compete in the next Irish offshore wind auction, ORESS 2.1.
With a maritime area more than ten times the size of its landmass, Ireland is ideally positioned to grow a strong and vibrant offshore sector, which will help decarbonise the Irish electricity system and enable future renewable energy exports to Europe. The partnership also encompasses an agreement to explore opportunities from renewable hydrogen produced from the projects in the longer term. It aims to help deliver on the Irish Government’s 2030 target of installing 7 GW of offshore wind and ultimately support Ireland’s transition to net-zero.
Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Simon Coveney TD welcomed the partnership, saying: “The Irish Government is committed to developing a strong offshore wind sector, which will provide us with abundant clean and secure renewable energy. We’ve signed into law an ambitious Climate Action Plan, which includes a 5 GW offshore wind target by 2030 with a target to generate 80 % of our electricity from renewable sources. This will be further supported by a National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind from my department. Today’s announcement is a strong vote of confidence in Ireland’s sustainable future and an important milestone in building a new, indigenous energy system, which is both secure, affordable, and clean.”
Jim Dollard, ESB Executive Director, Generation & Trading, said: “In recent years, ESB has amassed considerable expertise in offshore wind, partnering with leading energy companies in projects of scale and building a significant offshore footprint across Ireland and Great Britain.”
He continued: “ESB is developing a large renewables pipeline, and as part of that has developed a strong portfolio of offshore wind projects around the coasts of Ireland. We are delighted to partner with Ørsted, a global leader in the offshore wind industry, in developing this portfolio in Ireland. Offshore wind in Ireland will play a key part in the delivery of the ESB Strategy, Driven to Make A Difference – Net Zero by 2040 and the announcement of this partnership with Ørsted is an important step in that journey.”
Duncan Clark, Senior Vice President and Head of UK and Ireland at Ørsted, says:
“With a strong Irish onshore portfolio already in place, we are delighted to begin our journey in the Irish offshore market with ESB; the company that brought electricity to Ireland, and that today plays a leading role in the path to net-zero.”
He added: “This partnership combines complementary strengths relevant to development in this market and creates an ideal platform for Ørsted to bring its global expertise in the delivery of offshore wind to bear in Ireland. From the world’s first offshore turbine in Denmark in 1991 to the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm, Hornsea 2 in the UK, Ørsted has been a driving force behind the commercialisation of the offshore wind industry across Europe, Asia, and America as part of our vision to create a world that runs entirely on green energy.”
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About Ørsted
The Ørsted vision is a world that runs entirely on green energy. Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is recognised on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action and was the first energy company in the world to have its science-based net-zero emissions target validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Headquartered in Denmark, Ørsted employs approx. 8,000 people. Ørsted's shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2022, the group's revenue was DKK 132.3 billion (EUR 17.8 billion).
About ESB
ESB has been Ireland's foremost energy company since it was established in 1927, driven by an unwavering commitment to power society forward and deliver a net-zero future for our customers and the communities we serve.
Launched in 2022, its ‘Driven to Make a Difference: Net Zero by 2040’ strategy sets out a clear roadmap for ESB to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. It also commits ESB to a science-based target for 2030 to provide assurance that we are decarbonising our operations at the necessary pace and scale.
As a strong, diversified utility, ESB operates across the electricity market, from generation through transmission and distribution, to supply of customers in addition to using our networks to carry fibre for telecommunications. ESB is a leading Irish utility with a regulated asset base of approximately EUR 12.0 billion (comprising ESB Networks at EUR 9.7 billion and NIE Networks at EUR 2.3 billion), a 30���% share of generation in the all-island market and supply businesses supplying electricity and gas to over two million customer accounts throughout the island of Ireland and Great Britain.
As at 31 December 2022, ESB Group employed over 8,000 people.
ESB agus Ørsted i mbun comhpháirtíochta i gcomhaontú suntasach um ghaoth amach ó chósta na hÉireann
CORCAIGH, an 2 Meitheamh 2023: I mbeart suntasach, tá ESB, príomhchuideachta fóntais na hÉireann, agus Ørsted, ceannródaí an domhain i gcúrsaí gaoithe amach ón gcósta, tar éis comhaontú a shíniú chun punann gaoithe amach ó chósta na hÉireann a fhorbairt i gcomhpháirt.
Sheol an tAire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, Simon Coveney TD, Jim Dollard de chuid ESB, agus Duncan Clark, Ceannaire na Ríochta Aontaithe agus na hÉireann in Ørsted an comhaontú maidin inniu i dTeach Mhic Gearailt i gComhlachas Tráchtála Chorcaí.
Faoin gcomhaontú seo, arb é an chomhpháirtíocht is uaillmhianaí in Éirinn go dtí seo, beidh Ørsted ina chomhpháirtí 50/50 i sraith de thionscadail forbartha gaoithe amach ó chósta na hÉireann. Tá d’acmhainn ag an gcomhpháirtíocht suas le cúig ghigeavata (GW) d'fhuinneamh in-athnuaite agus tionscadail chomhlántacha hidrigine in-athnuaite a chur ar fáil, agus táthar ag súil leis go mbeidh an chéad cheann de na tionscadail giniúna gaoithe amach ón gcósta sin san iomaíocht sa chéad cheant eile in Éirinn, ORESS 2.1.
Agus limistéar muirí níos mó ná deich n-uaire níos mó ná méid a talún, tá Éire i riocht maith chun earnáil láidir agus bríomhar amach ón gcósta a fhorbairt, rud a chabhróidh chun dícharbónú a dhéanamh ar chóras leictreachais na hÉireann agus le heaspórtálacha fuinnimh in-athnuaite chuig an Eoraip amach anseo a chumasú. Mar chuid den chomhpháirtíocht, tá comhaontú ann freisin na deiseanna ón hidrigin in-athnuaite a tháirgtear ó na tionscadail mhóra seo a iniúchadh san fhadtéarma. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an gcomhaontú cabhrú chun sprioc 2030 Rialtas na hÉireann a bhaint amach maidir le 7 GW de ghaoth amach ón gcósta a shuiteáil agus, ar deireadh thiar, tacaíocht a thabhairt d’aistriú na hÉireann go tír atá neodrach ó thaobh carbóin de.
Chuir an tAire Fiontar, Trádála agus Fostaíochta, Simon Coveney TD fáilte roimh an gcomhpháirtíocht mar seo a leanas: “Tá Rialtas na hÉireann tiomanta d'earnáil láidir gaoithe amach ón gcósta a fhorbairt, rud a sholáthróidh go leor fuinnimh in-athnuaite atá glan agus slán dúinn. Táimid tar éis Plean Gníomhaithe uaillmhianach ar son na hAeráide a shíniú ina dhlí, lena n-áirítear sprioc 5 GW gaoithe amach ón gcósta a bhaint amach faoi 2030, chomh maith le sprioc 80% dár leictreachas a ghiniúint ó fhoinsí in-athnuaite. Tabharfaidh Straitéis Náisiúnta Tionscail mo roinne féin maidir le Gaoth Amach ón gCósta tacaíocht bhreise do na spriocanna sin. Is dearbhú láidir muiníne é fógra an lae inniu i dtodhchaí inbhuanaithe na hÉireann agus is garsprioc thábhachtach é maidir le córas nua fuinnimh dúchasach atá slán, inacmhainne agus glan a fhorbairt.”
Dúirt Jim Dollard, Stiúrthóir Feidhmiúcháin ESB, Giniúint & Trádáil “Le blianta beaga anuas, tá an-chuid saineolais bailithe ag ESB sa tionscal gaoithe amach ón gcósta, ag dul i gcomhpháirtíocht le cuideachtaí fuinnimh ceannródaíocha i dtionscadail mhóra chun lorg suntasach a fhorbairt amach ón gcósta ar fud na hÉireann agus na Breataine Móire.”
Lean sé ar aghaidh: “Tá sraith mhór de thionscadail fuinnimh in-athnuaite á forbairt ag ESB, agus mar chuid de sin, tá punann láidir tionscadal gaoithe amach ón gcósta forbartha aige timpeall chóstaí na hÉireann. Tá ríméad orainn dul i gcomhpháirtíocht le Ørsted, ceannródaí domhanda sa tionscal gaoithe amach ón gcósta, chun an phunann seo a fhorbairt in Éirinn. Beidh ról lárnach ag gaoth amach ón gcósta in Éirinn ó thaobh Straitéis ESB, Tiomanta chun Difríocht a Dhéanamh – Neodracht Carbóin faoi 2040, agus is céim thábhachtach san aistear sin é fógra na comhpháirtíochta seo le Ørsted.”
De réir Duncan Clark, Leas-Uachtarán Sinsearach agus Ceannaire na Ríochta Aontaithe agus na hÉireann in Ørsted:
“Agus punann láidir ar tír i bhfeidhm cheana féin in Éirinn, tá lúcháir orainn tús a chur lenár dturas ar an margadh amach ón gcósta in Éirinn le ESB, an chuideachta a thug leictreachas go hÉirinn agus atá ar thús cadhnaíochta sa lá atá inniu ann ar an mbealach i dtreo na neodrachta ó thaobh carbóin de.”
Lean sé air: “Leis an gcomhpháirtíocht seo, tugtar le chéile láidreachtaí comhlántacha a bhaineann le forbairt sa mhargadh seo agus cruthaíonn sí ardán iontach do Ørsted chun a shaineolas domhanda i soláthar gaoithe amach ón gcósta a thabhairt chun feidhme in Éirinn. Ón chéad tuirbín amach ón gcósta ar domhan sa Danmhairg i 1991 go dtí an fheirm ghaoithe amach ón gcósta is mó ar domhan, Hornsea 2 sa RA, tá Ørsted ina mhórspreagadh i ndáil leis an tionscail gaoithe amach ón gcósta ar fud na hEorpa, san Áise, agus i Meiriceá a thráchtálú mar chuid dár bhfís chun domhan a chruthú a ritheann ar fhuinneamh glas, agus ar fhuinneamh glas amháin.”
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Eolas faoi Ørsted
Is é fís Ørsted ná domhan atá á rith ar fhuinneamh glas, agus ar fhuinneamh glas amháin. Forbraíonn, tógann agus oibríonn Ørsted feirmeacha gaoithe amach ón gcósta agus ar an gcladach, feirmeacha gréine, saoráidí stórála fuinnimh, saoráidí hidrigin in-athnuaite agus breoslaí glasa, agus gléasraí bithfhuinnimh. Aithnítear Ørsted ar Liosta A um Athrú Aeráide den Phlean Forbraíochta um Chumas mar cheannaire domhanda ar ghníomhaíocht aeráide agus ba í an chéad chuideachta fuinnimh ar domhan a ndearna an tionscnamh Spriocanna Bunaithe ar an Eolaíocht (SBTi) a sprioc astaíochtaí glan-nialais eolaíocht-bhunaithe a bhailíochtú. Tá ceanncheathrú Ørsted sa Danmhairg agus tá thart ar 8,000 duine fostaithe ann. Tá scaireanna Ørsted liostaithe ar Nasdaq Copenhagen (Orsted). In 2022, ba é DKK 132.3 billiún (EUR 17.8 billiún) ioncam an ghrúpa.
Eolas faoi ESB
Tá ESB ar an gcuideachta fuinnimh is mó le rá in Éirinn ó bunaíodh é i 1927, agus é á thiomáint ag tiomantas daingean don tsochaí a chumhachtú chun cinn agus todhchaí glan nialasach a sheachadadh dár gcustaiméirí agus do na pobail ar a bhfreastalaímid.
Leagtar amach sa straitéis ‘Tiomanta ó thaobh Difear a Dhéanamh: Neodracht Carbóin faoi 2040’, arna seoladh in 2022, treochlár soiléir do ESB chun glanastaíochtaí nialasacha a bhaint amach faoi 2040. Gealltar sa straitéis chomh maith go gcloífidh ESB le Sprioc Bunaithe ar an Eolaíocht le haghaidh 2030 le deimhniú a thabhairt go bhfuilimid ag obair ar ár n-oibríochtaí a dhícharbónú ar luas agus ar scála cuí.
Mar fhóntas láidir éagsúlaithe, oibríonn ESB ar fud mhargadh an leictreachais, ó ghiniúint trí tharchur agus dáileadh, go soláthar custaiméirí chomh maith lenár líonraí a úsáid chun snáthoptaic a iompar le haghaidh teileachumarsáide. Is príomhfhóntas Éireannach é ESB le bonn sócmhainne rialáilte de thart ar €12.0 billiún (ina bhfuil ESB Networks ar fiú €9.7 billiún é agus NIE Networks ar fiú €2.3 billiún é), sciar 30% den ghiniúint sa mhargadh uile-oileáin agus gnólachtaí soláthair leictreachais agus gáis do níos mó ná 2 mhilliún cuntas custaiméara ar fud oileán na hÉireann agus na Breataine Móire.
Amhail an 31 Nollaig 2022, bhí breis agus 8,000 duine fostaithe ag Grúpa ESB.