Tipp can benefit from estuary project
The Shannon Estuary can become the “green digital powerhouse for the country” and its future economic development and benefit Europe in the process, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated as he launched the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce report.
The 200-page report is the output from an estimated 5,000 hours of commitment by the voluntary Taskforce appointed by Government 15 months ago to make recommendations on the economic development potential of the Shannon Estuary region.
Based on the unique natural assets of almost unrivalled deep-water, proximity to one of the world’s largest offshore wind resources with an estimated 70GW generation capacity – ten times our current national requirement – and available development landbanks for offshore wind supply-chain, green fuels generation and large scale FDI and indigenous industries, the estuary can, the Taskforce found, become the staging post for the Atlantic Green Digital Corridor.
WORLD LEADER
This, its chairman Barry O’Sullivan stated, would be the world’s leading green powered digital hub, stretching from Donegal through to Cork and further inland and delivering unprecedented benefit to the State by way of not alone sustainably powering the nation but being the 21st century draw for FDI and indigenous business growth.
A key recommendation to Government in the report to enable this is the creation of a National Floating Offshore Wind Development Agency, a one-stop-shop - as recommended in the EU Green Deal - to ensure that the plan becomes a reality. The Taskforce also recommends that the region, described by Mr O’Sullivan as “the green front door to Europe”, be given EU renewable energy ‘go-to area’ status.
The report targets, in terms of green jobs alone, the creation of 10,000 jobs by 2035 and 50,000 by 2050, having 2GW of green energy capacity in development by 2030, and up to 30GW installed by 2050. The investment value of the entire viable wind resource off the Atlantic seaboard is estimated at up to €120 billion.
TIPPERARY BENEFITS
The report makes a number of recommendations relating to Tipperary, including:
- Creation of a Biomethane Development Unit, under the existing Irish Bioeconomy Foundation, based at Lisheen, to manage a pilot to deliver the 35% decarbonisation target for high grade industrial heat users in the Estuary region. - The amalgamation of the Limerick/Clare and Tipperary Energy Agencies and providing them with increased resources to do this work in the wider region. This is an approach that is used successfully in Europe. - Fáilte Ireland to work with Clare County Council, Kerry County Council, Tipperary County Council and Limerick City and County Council in identifying quality indoor attractions that will strengthen the tourism offering of the four - It recommends that TII to continue engagement with Clare County Council, Limerick City and County Council, Kerry County Council, and Tipperary County Council in identifying further greenway routes to strengthen the tourism product offering and build greater connectivity.
This work should also strengthen the Eurovelo offering which connects our cycling routes with Europe. Local road infrastructure which forms part of the Eurovelo should be assessed to ensure it meets safe cycling standards - It also states that storage and flexibility will be key components of a future energy system which is dominated by renewables and notes the proposed 360 MW pumped storage project in Silvermines (included on the European Commission’s fifth list of energy Projects of Common Interest (PCIs)26) and the development of battery storage projects nationally to minimise the reliance on fossil fuel-derived electricity.
SIGNIFICANT REPORT
The significance of the report was reflected in the attendance of An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, to launch it but also Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Simon Coveney, Minister for Education Norma Foley, Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning Kieran O’Donnell, TDs, Senators and Mayors from counties across the Shannon Estuary region.
The report was launched at the Ardnacrusha Generating, which almost a century ago on its launch delivered a global renewable energy revolution as it became the world’s most cutting edge hydroelectric station, transforming a fledgling state as it electrified Ireland for the first time and, in tandem, saw the roll-out of the world’s first national grid.
Commenting on the report, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “It is a really visionary piece of work in my view. And what we want to do here in the Shannon Estuary region is to make this the green digital powerhouse for the country.
“If you speak to the history of this place, Ardnacrusha, built here 100 years ago, we went from being a country with an undeveloped electricity network to being the first with a national grid. It’s (the Shannon Estuary Region) is also the home of Shannon Airport, a lot of heavy industry, port infrastructure and, of course, the city of Limerick with its universities.
“So, a lot happening in the region already, from North Kerry through to Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary.”
Mr Varadkar said the region can become one of the powerhouses for “Ireland's future economic development, harnessing the enormous renewable energy that we have here and building new industries, producing green fertiliser, producing sustainable synthetic aviation fuels, powering the nation and also creating power for exports.”