Valentia Island Energy
Muichumhacht SEAPOWER is currently developing three large-scale floating offshore wind generation projects. These projects are strategically located off the west coast of Ireland, where wind conditions are optimal for energy production. Each project is designed to maximize energy output while minimizing environmental impact. Timelines for these projects vary, with some already. The expected benefits include significant reductions in carbon emissions, job creation, and economic growth for local communities.
Partners:
Energy Co-operative Ireland Ltd
Valentia Island Energy Co-operative Ltd
Location
25 kms West of Valentia Island
Status
MARA Application
Community Benefits
Our floating offshore wind projects bring numerous benefits to local communities. Economically, they create jobs, stimulate local businesses, and attract investments. Environmentally, they reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable energy practices, ensuring a cleaner future for all.
Environmental Integrity
Our sustainability ethos is core to our ambitions. We will guarantee that the impact of our project on the biodiversity and ecology of the region will be minimised. Our projects will be assessed by independent experts to ensure that all best practices are followed.
Community Partnership
The project is jointly owned by the local community along with its technical and financial partners. The community will leverage the financial benefits from the project to achieve its ambitious sustainability goals
Environmental Impact
The array will generate very large amounts of energy. Existing floating platform turbines have a power rating of up to 2MW. The VI Energy project aims to deploy 10MW turbines in a 10 X 10 array with a total output of 1000 MW. It is expected that this will produce approximately 4,380,000 MWh of electrical energy per year. This amount of power would meet the electricity demands of over 790,000 homes1, or energy to power 1,460,000 EVs for a year2.
1: Average home in Ireland consumes 5,500kWh electricity per year.
2: Average car drives 18,000km/yr, typical EV consumes 3,000kWh per year
Economic Growth
These projects are expected to generate significant economic growth by creating thousands of jobs during both the construction and operational phases. Local businesses will benefit from increased demand for services and products, fostering a thriving community economy.
Project Timeline
Our journey towards sustainable energy solutions is marked by key milestones and phases of development. Here is a detailed timeline of our projects.
2019
Community Partnership
The Valentia Island Energy project was intiated a s a partnership bewteen Energy Co-operatives Ireland and Valentia Island Energy Co-operative
2020
Project Scoping
Suitable sites around Valentia were assessed for fishing, marine traffic, protected species impacts: no serious economic or ecological obstacles were identified for the chosen site
2021
Foreshore Licence Application
Valentia Island Energy Ltd applied for a foreshore licence as the intial stage of perrmission for development
2022
MARA established
The licencing process was changed to a plan led approach. VIE engages with the new DMAP process
2023-4
Partnership Development
VIE has identified technical and financial partners which will play a driving role in its developemt on receipt of new DMAPs that include the site
Media and Community Comment
Valentia Island selected for European hydrogen project.
“Other governments around the world recognise the opportunities hydrogen can bring and are developing strategies to develop green hydrogen.
“The recently published Climate Action Plan 2023 included specific actions to enable the use of hydrogen across industry, enterprise and transport. However, we need more clarity at national level on what our strategy is.”
Colum O’Connell, Valentia Island Energy Co-op.
Clean Hydrogen Partnership funding Valentia H2orizon study
Brussels-based Clean Hydrogen Partnership has picked Valentia Island in County Kerry to receive support to explore clean energy solutions that will help Ireland on its path to net zero.
Clean Hydrogen Partnership will fund the H2orizon study, by consultants, to explore the role of hydrogen in decarbonising energy on Valentia Island, especially around maritime use.
West coast islands to join forces to generate offshore wind energy
Island communities off the west coast are to join forces with a view to generating offshore wind energy tied into hydrogen fuel production through a new network of local energy co-ops.