Ørsted and ESB have joined in a joint venture. They’ve since been selected to design and deploy a cutting-edge offshore wind project at Tonn Nua, located off the coast of County Waterford, Ireland. The project will demonstrate a groundbreaking 900 megawatt (MW) fixed-bottom offshore wind farm at commercial scale. It is currently scheduled to go into effect January 1, 2037. Tonn Nua is an incredible 306 square kilometers. It is playing a key role in Ireland’s transition to a cleaner, renewable energy future.
Just last month, Ireland conducted its second offshore wind auction. Tonn Nua was the only site available through the new Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS). The CfD that the project has been awarded directly money that can be used to construct and operate the wind farm. It has set a strike price of €98.71 ($114.43) per megawatt hour for a partially-indexed 20-year contract. After the project is commissioned (expected in the mid-2030s), the contract will start.
Infrastructure Development and Support
EirGrid, the independent transmission system operator in Ireland, will be responsible for planning and building the high voltage transmission infrastructure needed for Tonn Nua. This infrastructure will include both offshore and onshore substations. It will feature export cables, something Thomas Beecher, Orsted’s senior project development manager, said will be critical to connecting the wind farm to Ireland’s electricity network.
In early 2023, Ørsted and ESB established a 50/50 joint venture. Collectively, they are committed to building a pipeline of Irish offshore wind projects. They have demonstrated an incredible commitment to this new initiative, which dovetails beautifully with our national goals of increasing renewable energy output and decreasing our carbon emissions.
“Offshore wind will play an important part in the future Irish energy system, ensuring green, affordable and secure energy.” – [No name mentioned – power-technology.com]
Positive Outlook from Stakeholders
Alana Kühne directs business development for Ørsted’s Europe region. She noted that the Irish government should be lauded for their success at auctioning Tonn Nua. She stated that this project is an important milestone in facilitating the development of offshore wind in Ireland.
“We commend the Irish government for running a successful auction, continuing the support for the development of offshore wind in Ireland.” – [Alana Kühne – power-technology.com]
The joint venture’s plans are in line with a larger movement across Ireland to support greener energy projects. By tapping into the vast potential of offshore wind, they’re hoping to play a key role in helping the country meet its energy independence and sustainability goals.
Future Implications for Renewable Energy
The Tonn Nua project is a $282 million dollar investment in renewable energy infrastructure. Once completed, this initiative will help drive Ireland’s energy transformation for decades to come. The world is getting more serious about the fight against climate change. It’s through initiatives like Tonn Nua that we begin to build a greener and brighter future.
As the project gets closer to its anticipated operational date, it will provide more significant energy production. It will improve quality of life and public health, create good jobs, and energize local economies. The level of commitment displayed by Ørsted and ESB has raised the bar for offshore collaborations in the renewable sector.