An Irish-based renewable energy company run by industry veterans from companies like Mainstream Renewable Energy is hoping to build a giant floating wind farm worth over €1.5 billion in the Celtic Sea that will produce green hydrogen. It will be around 60km off the coast of Wales and could eventually also export hydrogen to Ireland.
It comes at a time when energy security is becoming a major concern for Western European countries following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Source Energie, which has partnered with ERM Dolphyn on the project, is also planning large wind energy projects around the Irish coast Irish Independent revealed last year.
Source Energy’s CEO is Kevin Lynch. He was previously head of John Mullins’ Amarenco Renewable Energy.
Source Energy’s Chief Operating Officer and co-founder is Torben Andersen. Previously, he was Executive Director at Mainstream, founded by Eddie O’Connor, and also worked for Airtricity.
The first location in the Celtic Sea that Source Energie and ERM Dolphyn plan to develop together is called “Dylan”.
The two companies hope that the offshore wind farm will be built at the site west of Milford Haven between 2027 and 2028.
Future expansions could deliver more than 2 GW of energy, according to Source Energie. That would provide enough hydrogen to make a “significant impact” on local and national decarbonisation targets in the UK and enough to heat around a million homes.
The UK’s Crown Estate – which manages the seabed around England, Wales and Northern Ireland – is currently undertaking a consultation process to identify suitable areas for floating offshore wind farm licences. This month it was said that up to 4 GW of floating offshore wind farms were planned in the Celtic Sea.
The consultation process continues and the Crown Estate is now addressing issues such as fisheries, defence, cables and biodiversity.
Mr Lynch said Source Energie and ERM Dolphyn are “actively involved in the consultation process” and that their plans have the backing of the Welsh Government.
Steve Matthews, commercial director of ERM Dolphyn, said the Celtic Sea and other areas are ideal for hydrogen production.
“Deep water areas in the UK and Ireland offer great opportunities to produce green hydrogen on a large scale and to deliver this carbon-free fuel to areas of increasing demand where it can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels,” he said.
Mr. Andersen said that Irish Independent that potential financing partners for the project include oil majors and energy companies. He said he hopes the Crown Estate will expedite licensing for the project.
The ERM Dolphyn System was developed by ERM. It combines electrolysis, desalination and hydrogen production on a floating wind platform. The green hydrogen is then transported to land via a pipeline.
Source Energie plans to build at least three large offshore wind farms in Ireland off Donegal, Cork and Wicklow.
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/irish-energy-veterans-plan-15bn-celtic-sea-hydrogen-farm-41476323.html Irish energy veterans plan €1.5 billion hydrogen farm in the Celtic Sea
