Limerick Chamber ‘Energy on Estuary’ outlines actions for Green Energy from Shannon Estuary

Limerick Chamber ‘Energy on Estuary’ outlines actions for Green Energy from Shannon Estuary. Michael MacCurtain, Limerick Chamber Skillnet, Deputy Brian Leddin, Green Party, Pat Keating, Shannon Foynes Port Company, Dee Ryan, CEO Limerick Chamber, Donal Cantillon, President Limerick Chamber, Val Cummins, Simply Blue Group, Ciaran McManus, ESB, Barry O’Sullivan, Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce.

Limerick Chamber brings together key sectoral players for ‘Energy on Estuary’ event outlining actions needed to make Green Energy at scale a reality from the Shannon Estuary

With much buzz about anticipated investment in Clare, Limerick and Kerry, a Mid-West business community gathering was briefed on the scale of the opportunity off Ireland’s West coast but told swift action needs to be taken by policymakers to seize the business opportunity.

Speaking at the event, Chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Environment and Climate Action, Brian Leddin TD outlined Government commitment expressed through the Climate Action plan, in reducing carbon emissions and supporting the achievement of targets of 5GW of renewable energy by 2030.

Speakers included Ciaran MacManus, Head of Offshore Wind Generation, Ireland, ESB and Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port company who outlined plans for investment in Moneypoint and Foynes Port and spoke about the competitive advantages of the Estuary. 

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Barry O’Sullivan, Chair of Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce gave an update on focus areas for the taskforce whose report is expected in coming months and Dr Val Cummins, Operations & Project Director (Ireland), Simply Blue called for action to allow industry players to advance planned private investment in making Floating Offshore Wind a reality.

President of Limerick Chamber, Donal Cantillon said “The Shannon Estuary has the raw materials needed to support the development of Offshore Floating Wind at scale and for Ireland to become energy exporters.

“Not only does the Mid-West have access to world-leading port/estuary infrastructure, the plans to increase rail and road linkages to the port will significantly increase its area of influence and further bolster its ability to be the epicentre of floating offshore renewables in Ireland, but with long lead times for investment and manufacturing we must allow industry to start now and we must capitalise on appetite for investment while it is still there.  Further delays to the development of ORE will result in investor frustration and missed opportunities with industry looking elsewhere, in fact there have been instances of this happening already with Equinor.

This is a much larger opportunity than decarbonisation alone, Government must think not only of domestic decarbonisation but also of wider job creation and regional livelihoods and the plethora of positive economic effects it will bring to Ireland.  We must send positive signals to the market that Ireland is open for business.”

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