Offshore wind power Wind power in the Republic of Ireland

the arklow bank wind park, located 10 km off coast of arklow on arklow bank in irish sea, ireland s first offshore wind farm. wind farm owned , built ge energy , co-developed airtricity , ge energy. site has 7 ge energy 3.6 mw turbines generate total of 25 mw. development of site divided 2 phases first phase being current installation of 7 turbines. second phase partnership between airtricity , acciona energy. acciona energy had option buy project after facility completed. wind farm planned expand 520 mw of power. however, in 2007, phase 2 cancelled.

although waters off atlantic coastline of ireland have higher winds, sites along eastern coastline such arklow chosen because of shallower waters, 20 m deep or less.

the national offshore wind association of ireland (now ireland) announced in april 2010 60,000 potential jobs created in irish marine, construction, engineering , service industries through development of offshore wind energy in irish , european waters. ireland announced in same month on €50bn due invested in irish sea , celtic sea in next 2 decades.

in belfast, harbour industry being redeveloped hub offshore windfarm construction, @ cost of £50m. work create 150 jobs in construction, requiring 1m tonnes of stone local quarries, create hundreds more jobs. first dedicated harbour upgrade offshore wind .