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.

The Irish Examiner

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.

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Renew.biz

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.

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Mares Connect