Galway Port pushing EU for change to drive wind energy

Galway Port is pushing for changes into how ports are classified in the European Union so that it can apply for funding for its planned redevelopment and help it to facilitate offshore wind energy.

CEO of the Galway Harbour Company, Conor O’Dowd, led a delegation to Brussels to meet with influential MEPs in EU institutions in bid to drive home the message that wind speeds on the North-West coast are the highest in Europe.

Yet there is no top tier or Trans European Transport Network (Ten-T) port in the West which attracts the highest level of EU funding, due to the fact they are categorised according to tonnage and passenger numbers.

“The metric for Ten-T ports is an outdated mode of port measurement. If you look at modern ports, particularly when it comes to renewable energy such as wind turbines, they weigh very little compared to oil, but the revenue is high because they take a lot of labour, cranage, logistics and storage,” he explained.

“Developing wind energy is hugely important in terms of weaning ourselves off carbon so anything that encourages offshore wind farms is a good thing. The metric also doesn’t consider use of the land bank at ports or rental earned.”

The technology associated with floating wind turbines presents an exciting opportunity for a network of ports along the West coast. It would give ports like Galway the chance to pivot in order to service offshore windfarms.

Meetings organised by Fine Gael MEP Colm Markey over two days did not elicit any commitments. But the EU politicians did seem impressed with the future capabilities of the North-West coast for renewable energy.

“Offshore wind could meet all Irelands’ electricity needs and provide clean energy exports to other European markets. It’s crucial that Galway Port is supported as the EU aims to meets its climate targets and quickly move away from importing energy from Russia,” stated the Midlands-North-West MEP.

“Galway Port has massive potential, particularly when it comes to developing offshore wind capacity in the Atlantic. Ports are central to the development of offshore wind and play a key role in providing ongoing operation and maintenance services.

“Unfortunately, the criteria for this particularly funding stream is largely based on tonnage and we are pushing for a change as we transition from fossil fuels to renewables such as wind and green hydrogen – which could power the likes of buses and trains.”

Galway Port is still waiting for word on its billion-euro port redevelopment, which has been with An Bord Pleanála since 2014.