Wedoany.com Report-Apr. 10, A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by EirGrid, Enterprise Ireland, and IDA Ireland during the Wind Europe annual conference in Copenhagen, focusing on the future of offshore wind in Ireland. EirGrid manages and develops Ireland’s electricity grid, while Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland support business growth and investment. This agreement aligns with the Irish government’s strategy, *Powering Prosperity - Ireland’s Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy*, to enhance collaboration among these agencies and strengthen the offshore wind industry.

The MoU aims to attract investment, create opportunities for companies in the offshore wind sector, and build a robust supply chain to achieve Ireland’s goal of 37 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2050. It includes plans for training in public procurement tendering to equip firms for participation. This effort supports the government’s target of connecting at least 5 GW of offshore wind power to the grid, contributing to the goal of renewable energy meeting 80% of Ireland’s yearly electricity needs in the near future.

Michael Mahon, chief infrastructure officer at EirGrid, welcomed the agreement: “Today marks a great step in energy cooperation between State agencies, which will be vital in helping Ireland meet our ambitious renewable targets, including developing five gigawatts of offshore wind in the coming years. The development of renewables in the Irish maritime area is critical for achieving our energy transition and boosting energy security. This memorandum of understanding shows the critical need to expand and deepen our collaboration for the benefit of Ireland and our sustainable energy future.”

Matt Kennedy, head of client transformation at IDA Ireland, emphasized the partnership’s value: “Strengthening collaboration between Ireland's enterprise agencies and EirGrid is crucial to accelerating offshore wind deployment in Ireland and transforming our energy system. By working together, we can drive market interest, expand industry knowledge, and create a thriving environment for offshore wind development.”

Mark Christal, divisional manager for food & sustainability at Enterprise Ireland, highlighted local benefits: “The signing of the MoU between the three agencies represents important development opportunities for Ireland’s home-grown offshore wind sector, including the Enterprise Ireland supported Gael Offshore Network, Ireland's supply chain for the global offshore wind industry. This MoU recognises the potential benefits to Ireland from cooperation between the parties. It will underpin existing support for Irish companies with expertise in areas including civil and marine engineering, geotechnical/geophysical capability, materials handling, environmental surveys and data collection, along with an innovative expertise in digital for offshore and associated cybersecurity. The expertise within Irish companies will be key to delivering Ireland’s offshore wind and sustainability ambitions.”

This collaboration underscores a unified approach to advancing Ireland’s renewable energy landscape, leveraging local expertise and international cooperation to meet long-term sustainability goals.