Ireland is set to advance its renewable energy ambitions with the selection of Helvick Head Offshore Wind DAC, a joint venture between ESB and Ørsted, as the developer for the Tonn Nua site. The project, awarded through the government’s ORESS Tonn Nua auction, will generate 900MW of offshore wind power, enough to supply nearly a million homes and strengthen the nation’s clean energy mix.

EirGrid, tasked with delivering the engineering and transmission infrastructure to connect this offshore capacity to the onshore grid, will play a central role in supporting Ireland’s target of producing 80% of electricity from renewable sources. Liam Ryan, chief transformation, technology and offshore officer at EirGrid, highlighted the strategic importance of leveraging Ireland’s offshore wind potential to meet rising energy demand while advancing the country’s climate action goals.

The auction achieved a price of €98.72, positioning Ireland competitively in Europe’s renewable energy landscape, where some recent auctions have faltered. Wind Energy Ireland called the results a strong vote of confidence in the country’s offshore wind sector, emphasising the economic opportunities for Waterford and the broader south-east region.

Despite the success of Tonn Nua, uncertainty remains around the timeline for additional offshore projects. While three other south coast sites have been identified, no schedule has been set, delaying the expansion of Ireland’s offshore wind pipeline. Industry stakeholders stress collaboration with government agencies is crucial to ensure Tonn Nua is delivered and that the existing east coast projects progress as planned.

The Tonn Nua development represents a major step in Ireland’s energy transition, combining engineering innovation with long-term investment potential and regional economic growth.

Explore the full engineering and energy strategy behind Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions in the full article.