Calls on Govt to view offshore wind farms as investment

An Irish businessman, whose company is installing the largest offshore wind farm in the world at Dogger Bank in the North Sea, has said the Government should see supporting the offshore wind industry as an investment rather than a cost to the State.

David Brennan, Managing Director of Waterford-based Eastgate Engineering, urged the Government to act faster with more ambition and imagination, to accelerate the development of the offshore wind industry.

Mr Brennan said tens of thousands of jobs could be created.

Eastgate Engineering won the largest ever contract for the mechanical and electrical pre-assembly of an offshore wind farm in the world.

This project involves 277 massive wind turbines located 140km off the UK Coast.

The Dogger Bank Wind farm is owned by GE Verona. When it is up and running, it will be capable of supplying enough electricity for six million homes.

Eastgate currently employs 200 people, mostly out of its larger operational office on Teesside in the UK and has plans to double its workforce by the end of this year.

“The towers that we are assembling, they’re 111 meters tall,” Mr Brennan said.

“Each is as big as six double-decker buses. Essentially, it’s 277 turbines, each of which has its own power station. Our job is to put them all together before loadout”, he added.

“Five years ago, when we set out to get into the offshore renewables business there was little to nothing happening in the north or northeast of England. Now, if you follow the coastline of the northeast, it is nothing but offshore renewables.”

When it comes to the skills required to kickstart the industry, Mr Brennan is certain that Ireland can come up to the mark.

“We don’t have the necessary port infrastructure yet. But Ireland does have the skill set”, he added.

Mr Brennan said there is a transition required and that the encouragement of the UK government has been a huge help in this change, something he believes should be emulated in Ireland.

“The Global Wind Organisation skills and training is currently being done in Ireland, although not at the same scale as in the UK. There, they have the advantage of government incentives and schemes to encourage companies to invest.”

“They also give rebates for training staff. So, there is huge help in the UK,” Mr Brennan added.

The Eastgate director also said the industry can deliver “long-term sustainable jobs” and that these roles can be created “in lower cost regions such as Waterford, Rosslare, Limerick and other areas outside of Dublin”.

“We employ electricians, mechanical fitters, platers, painters, rope access technicians, riggers, lifters, drivers and all sorts. We also have planners, engineers, construction management, the whole lot,” Mr Brennan explained.

“All these people have quickly transitioned from power and oil and gas industries into offshore renewables. We have these skill sets in Ireland too, we just need to enable it to happen”, he added.