Cathal Groonell, chair of the Ros an Mhíl port development committee, highlights the daily challenges faced by 90% of south Connemara’s workforce due to extensive morning and evening traffic jams on their commute to Galway.
Groonell insists that creating an operations and maintenance center at the fishery port to support offshore wind energy development on the west coast could be a transformational opportunity for local employment.
There is a competition currently ongoing among Irish ports to prepare to serve and construct offshore wind farms, beginning with fixed bottom turbines and later adopting floating technology. Taking the first essential steps into this new predicted sector could contribute approximately €38 billion to the Irish economy over its lifespan.
Despite not being perceived as a leading location, Ros an Mhíl is said to have an upper hand against its competitors, thanks to its closeness to offshore sites and a €30 million renovation currently underway. Organisations like Údarás na Gaeltachta and many other members of a large team support this argument.
Groonell argues that with modest extra investment, the local committee which has been pushing for facility upgrades for over two decades, believes they can make it suitable for its purpose. This could lead to the single most significant investment in Connemara to date, initiating with the wind farm’s development by Corio Generation, also known as Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (FST), on Sceirde Rocks close to Carna and Roundstone.
Yet this is a classic chicken and egg predicament, as developers will not come without the necessary infrastructure. They intend to build and service their operations from strategically placed points along the coastline features such as deep water, long quaysides, and large adjoining land banks.
Despite being fully aware of the recent decrease in port trade, Groonell remains hopeful about its future: “The development of the deepwater pier is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to construct a new industry, not only for Ros an Mhíl but also for south Connemara,” he states.
As the head of Iasc Mara, a fish processing company, he guided a prosperous venture throughout the 1980s, providing employment to over 400 workers. “A substantial quantity of fishing boats, manned by local crews and rooted in Inis Mór’s community, were landing fish.” Despite this, the industry faced a downward gradient as boats were progressively purchased, primarily by operators from Killybegs, and declining fish quotas contributed to the downturn.
The harbour evolved into the primary launching point for visitors exploring the Aran Islands and a bustling marina was constructed, although the traffic was highly seasonal.
He believes the primary asset of Ros an Mhíl is its capacity for a deepwater pier capable of accommodating large scale fishing and offshore energy vessels. “Construction can come in at around €30 million due to the naturally deep waters, protection from the elements, and direct service accessibility.”
Ports will need colossal investment reaching hundreds of millions from State funds to cater to the offshore wind sector’s needs. Time is of the essence due to legal obligations related to climate goals – a commitment of five gigawatts of fixed offshore wind, with a secondary 2GW in floating development by 2030.
“Offshore wind operators have expressed their ability to carry out their duties from Ros an Mhíl. This provides me optimism… As a nation, the need for offshore wind energy is significantly high. There is no barrier preventing it from flourishing here,” he added.
Groonell sees potential for collaboration between Ros an Mhíl, the already growing Galway port, and Aran, a natural haven for shipping.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine received approval for a 200-metre berth length, 12-metre depth at quayside, an eight-metre depth in the navigation channel and a 200-metre turnaround circle. However, the current building contract from the Department of the Marine restricted the berth depth to 10 metres and channel depth to seven metres with a reduced 150-metre turnaround circle, based on financial restraints and a singular focus on fisheries-related needs.
Mark White, a specialist in marine development, advises local port committee that it is feasible to conduct operations with the current conditions, although it would be beneficial to widen the channel to 100 meters, which could be done for €400,000. However, to fully maximise the granted planning permission, an additional €12 million would be required. With this budget, they could make the conduit accessible to all water vehicles, including the jack-up barges necessary for significant construction projects like the installation of sea bed turbines. The current design imposes limitations, particularly concerning future preparations for floating wind projects.
The director of Aran Energy Co-op, Dara Molloy, views the Sceirde project as a chance for Ros an Mhíl to showcase its full potential. Molloy acknowledges that there are certain services they are incapable of providing on their own, and collaboration with Galway port and other willing entities is key. While the timeline is tight, they so far find much needed reassurance in Energy Minister Eamon Ryan’s endorsement of Ros an Mhíl as an offshore hub.
While fishing in the area has seen a decline, there has been an increase in population in the Aran Islands for the first time since the Famine, mainly driven by full employment in the hospitality sector. However, Molloy regards port and offshore development as unduly complicated owing to the various departments that need to be part of the decision-making process.
As for local apprehensions about the FST wind farm, Molloy confirms their existence, especially among fishermen worried about underwater cables interfering with spawning and fishing vessels unintentionally hooking these cables. Concerns about placing wind turbines in lucrative fishing areas also exist, but discussions with the respective parties are underway. Although the co-op is not averse to wind farms, Molloy advocates for their positioning and maintenance to cause least disruption to marine life, from birds and whales to different varieties of sea fish.
The proposition of sharing the ownership of offshore wind farms with affected local communities has been put forth. Noting the UK Government’s facilitation of community group ownership for onshore wind or solar farms, it was suggested that this might be a similar course of action for offshore wind farms. Rejecting suggestions of compensation as temporary appeasements, it was stated that the creation of a community benefit fund, managed by an independent group and worth €3.5 million annually, would be more beneficial.
Séamus McCabe, the Senior Development Director at Corio, anticipates that the fund would enhance cooperation between different community groups. A memorandum of understanding between Corio and Údarás is believed to be key to fostering a solid relationship, essential to the project’s success, which relies greatly on the community.
Rónán Mac Con Iomaire, serving as a Director at Údarás, sees promise in an opportunity for over 600 job positions. Not daunted by establishing a new trade in the Gaeltacht region, he referred to the development and recognition of the audiovisual sector in Connemara during the 90s. Upskilling the local residents here in order to function in new industries, such as the offshore sector, is a top priority. Údarás is currently working on establishing a dedicated centre for offshore industry training in their serviced business park.
Mac Con Iomaire highlighted one of the potential benefits – allowing those who moved away for job opportunities to return to their homeland. He mentioned the noteworthy marine diaspora from recent times, citing plethoric artisans working around the North Sea, who continued to show their connection to Connemara through social media platforms, despite their location in countries such as Denmark, Scotland, and Germany.
Armed with a keen knowledge of this skills pool, after living in Scotland for a decade, McCabe (an Irish speaker), aims to forward a planning petition for the wind farm this year. The expected cost for the wind farm, with its production capacity of 450MW (sufficient for 350,000 homes), is estimated to be €1.5 billion. Power will be transmitted via cable, both offshore and onshore, to a robust point in the national grid, Moneypoint in Co Clare.
The project has received inputs from local fishermen to lessen impacts, with a survey carried out last year, and further work slated for this year. It is anticipated that construction will commence by the end of 2026.
The stipulations of the ORESS-1 auction process, where they secured a State contract, mandate that they contribute towards the 2030 goals. The construction time will likely span across three years due to dependency on “weather windows.” The turbine size will be clarified in the final blueprint, “which is still years away”, and will be determined by local wind speed and the most effective fixed bottom technology available, states McCabe.
Despite the recent problems with supply chains and market, McCabe seems unfazed, stating: “I don’t believe it would unsettle us… The turbine providers are rather upbeat about investing in themselves to offer additional capacity. There are obviously numerous global projects for offshore wind in the pipeline.” Working collectively to meet the 2030 goals will probably the bigger challenge, he suggests.
Addressing industry concerns about the slow pace of Irish offshore development driving capital away, he appears optimistic: “There is no shortage of capital in the market… It’s high-quality projects that are lacking. Institutional investors are very keen to invest in the industry as an asset class.”
Micheál Ó Clochartaigh from FST, a stakeholder and consent manager native to Carna, indicates that despite the issues relating to rural disadvantage, emigration, and limited job opportunities, people are significantly invested and are genuinely concerned about climate change and the significance of national and international targets.
The role Ros an Mhíl can play along with other deepwater harbours on the western seaboards should be perceived as “an absolutely vital national opportunity,” states White. He insists that this must be supported by a strategic shift at the topmost government levels, as various governmental departments have important roles in offshore renewable energy. White claims the current interdepartmental taskforce isn’t sufficient and achieving our potential and, more urgently, our 2030 and 2050 goals will need not just collective thinking, but also collective management.
A recommendation has been put forth to establish a top-tier official at the Department of the Taoiseach, whose role would be to guarantee that each respective department does its part in realising Ireland’s offshore renewable energy potential. This counts for attention, haste, and fervour, and it necessitates the government’s unambiguous and gaugeable policy for implementation and delivery. It is likely that such a role would involve legislative changes and the adjustment of current role definitions, however, due to the significant potential of offshore renewables within the nation, these actions should be pursued with the utmost urgency.
The Department of Marine has acknowledged Ros an Mhíl as a “fishery harbour centre,” functioning under legislation designed to bolster the fishing industry. Key points to be delivered include a deepwater quay, aligned with planning permission and evaluated cost benefits. It constitutes one of three centres mentioned in a policy focused on offshore renewable energy facilitation by commercial ports, as introduced by Minister Ryan. The extent of the harbour’s involvement, however, is still pending.
Local resident and previously a Fianna Fáil senator, Nioclás Ó Conchubhair, suggests that the continuation of the project hinges on political decision-making. Building endeavours relevant to port infrastructure with the capacity to support offshore renewable energy at state-controlled commercial ports is undertaken by the Department of Transport. As part of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, developing the expansion is a critical aspect of Ros an Mhíl’s mission.
Advancements, such as the expansion of the port facility at Ros an Mhíl by Galway firm Ward & Burke, are pioneering. The company uses an ingenious levelling frame to install caissons along the quay wall, filled with a cement substitute named GGBS, minimising the carbon footprint in the process. Pádraig Burke, the Managing Director, advocates for governmental support as he believes that Irish companies possess the capabilities required to actualise the needed offshore infrastructure.
Ó Conchubhair, an invested observer of the happenings, runs a local construction and electrical goods enterprise in Casla. He regards the development of a deepwater facility as promising. He vouches that bipartisan support and an investment of additional resources could contribute greatly in bolstering the offshore wind energy potential in the western regions of the country.
Should a political resolution not be reached, it would essentially be tantamount to casting Ros an Mhíl into the ocean, suggests McCabe. He enumerates the Irish port facilities necessary for bolstering this nascent industry; Ros an Mhíl, Cork, Shannon-Foynes, and the Dublin ports all have individual parts to play. There’s a substantial reward to be seized, and there’s a slice for everyone, he adds.