Shannon Foynes port masterplan Vision 2041 to support Ireland’s emerging offshore wind industry

Vision 2041 was launched in 2013 and was Ireland’s first long-term port strategy and set out ambitious targets for the development of port infrastructure and services along the Shannon Estuary.

Shannon Foynes Port expansion will enhance its status as key hub for European trade and renewable energy

The transformative economic and environmental potential of the Shannon Estuary as an international renewable energy and logistics hub has been reaffirmed by the appointment by Shannon Foynes Port Company (SFPC) of Bechtel to advance its port masterplan, Vision 2041.

Bechtel, a world leader in strategic planning and development of ports, will update the masterplan tomaximise the opportunity emerging from offshore and onshore investment within and adjacent to its harbours in Ireland.

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Vision 2041, which was launched in 2013, was Ireland’s first long-term port strategy and set out ambitious targets for the development of port infrastructure and services along the Shannon Estuary. The intervening period has seen all targets for investment and growth met by SFPC, which has now engaged Bechtel to work with it in updating the masterplan. This will have a strong focus on SFPC’s role as a key enabler of the unprecedented renewable energy opportunity from floating offshore wind off the Atlantic seaboard and related production of alternative shipping fuels that, together, will transform Shannon Foynes into a leading European port.

Planned expansion at the port, including a new 1kilometer dock with depths of over 18m alongside and associated quayside storage, will increase port capacity to 20m tons per annum and will be accommodated by up to 1,200 hectares of land zoned for strategic development.

The port’s proximity to the Atlantic wind resource provides the opportunity for it to become a major international renewable energy hub. Given the 80GW of capacity available off the Atlantic seaboard and the port proximity to this, SFPC will be a key enabler for Ireland reaching and surpassing its 20GW offshore wind target by 2050. The expanded facilities at Shannon Foynes would include hydrogen and ammonia production facilities for long-term energy storage and will also consider the export of the renewable energy/fuels produced.

Bechtel’s role will be to assess and refresh the port’s masterplan to best leverage these advantages, further boost growth and support the region’s emerging offshore wind industry. 

John Williams, Bechtel’s managing director for the UK and Ireland said: “There is an increasingly strong case for investing in port infrastructure to support the growth in offshore wind and the importance of creating local supply chains cannot be underestimated. Ports act as focal points during the manufacturing, installation and operation of offshore wind farms and Shannon Foynes is strategically ideal to support Ireland’s offshore wind industry, as well as expand to play an even greater role in European shipping. We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with Shannon Foynes Port Company on their Masterplan update.”

Patrick Keating, Chief Executive of SFPC said: “Nine years ago, Vision 2041 was considered a very ambitious masterplan, yet we have since met all the higher end growth targets identified for the interim period. In it we also identified the opportunity ahead for what were then only emerging sectors, such as offshore renewables. The Estuary is now viewed not alone by SFPC but the sector internationally as an emerging renewable energy supply-chain hub. In addition, there is the complementary growth potential for the estuary as a major logistics centre.

“The acceleration of these opportunities necessitates the updating of Vision 2041 so that we have a strategic roadmap for realising the unprecedented opportunity for the company, the region and, indeed, the State. This is a critical moment for us and we are delighted to have Bechtel supporting us. Bechtel’s portfolio spans infrastructure, renewables, fuel production, and financing and makes them uniquely qualified to help us maximise the benefits of our deep-water advantage and our expansion plan, along with the job creation, supplier opportunities, economic growth that it will bring. We look forward to finalising the report over the coming months and unveiling this ambition to place Ireland at the global top-table for renewable energy and logistics.”

Bechtel are global experts in ports, having delivered facilities around the globe, including Khalifa Port, the most advanced trading hub in the Middle East. Over 40 years ago, Bechtel was involved in the construction of Aughinish Alumina, the largest industrial complex on the Shannon estuary and adjacent to Foynes port. Bechtel is taking a growing position in Ireland supporting the renewal of infrastructure and the growth of renewables, having been recently appointed by daa as its integrated delivery partner for Dublin Airport’s capital investment program and also in supporting the Ervia Cork Carbon Capture Utilisation & Storage (CCUS) Project PreFEED study for the development of CO₂ transport pipeline networks, liquefaction, storage, and shipping facilities for CO₂ clusters in Ireland. This project is part funded by the European Commission under the Connecting Europe Facility funding instrument.

For more information on Vision 2041, go HERE

For more stories on Shannon Foynes Port, go HERE