Shannon Estuary green energy hub could create 50,000 jobs locally

TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar joined ministers on Saturday at the historic Ardnacrusha hydro-electric dam in Clare to publish the Shannon Taskforce Report, which make proposals to government to transform the Shannon Estuary region.

The report sets out an over-arching vision for the Shannon Estuary to become Ireland’s Atlantic Green Digital Corridor, and to be the lead location for Atlantic offshore wind.

This 50,000-word blueprint for the Shannon Estuary has clear targets - including the creation of 10,000 new green 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 report’s proposals for renewable energy, industry, tourism, and logistics could result in significant job growth and new business opportunities, and it has exciting proposals for new technologies like hydrogen.

The taskforce, which was a Programme for Government commitment, was established in April 2022 and chaired by Barry O’Sullivan, consulted extensively with regional, national, and international stakeholders across industry, government, local authorities, elected representatives, and members of the public.

It sets out:

how the installation of offshore wind in the Atlantic can be expedited within the next decade;
the important role a thriving R&D ecosystem can play in driving our offshore wind opportunity;
how the existing employment and industrial base can be sustained through onshore renewable energy solutions;
how the tourism offering in the region can be strengthened ahead of the Ryder Cup 2027;
and how critical infrastructure can be identified to avail of these opportunities.

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Commenting on the Report, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “We are launching this report in Ardnacrusha, which is an historic example of what can be achieved when Government and industry work together. The Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report sets out how Government and industry can work together for the benefit of the Shannon Estuary Region, the country and Europe.

"When I was re-elected as Taoiseach in December, I outlined my ambition for Ireland to become energy independent by harnessing our untapped renewable energy resources. This is our moonshot for the 21st century - something to strive for, not because it is easy but because it is hard. We need to be bold and visionary, but also practical and prepared, and I believe the Taskforce Report strikes a really good balance between the two. Thanks, above all, to the members of the Taskforce for so generously giving their time over the last year.”

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport, Eamon Ryan, said: “We are on the cusp of really exciting times in our transition to renewable energy, here in Ireland, but also across Europe. Recently released data shows that wind and solar produced more EU electricity than fossil fuels in May, for the first full month on record. Almost a third of the EU’s electricity in May was generated from wind and solar, and here in Ireland, we are no different. Last year over a third of our electricity was produced from wind power.

“In solar, the rooftop revolution is taking off with over 500 homes installing solar PVs every week. However, our off-shore wind potential is the really big prize and this report indicates that the Shannon Estuary Taskforce is well positioned to be an important driver in harnessing the enormous potential of our Atlantic wind, bringing it onshore to power businesses, tourism, and industry, around the Estuary itself, but also wider – across the country and across Europe through strengthened interconnection and partnerships on hydrogen. This region really has the potential to  be a green, digital powerhouse."

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The taskforce chairman, Barry O'Sullivan said the final report represents the culmination of over a year’s comprehensive assessment of the Shannon Estuary region’s phenomenal potential.

"However, my strong belief is that our report marks just the beginning of our region’s new journey. Together, the Taskforce has presented a clear vision with a detailed set of actions that can allow our Region to power Ireland’s sustainable economic aspirations over the coming decades providing high-end employment opportunities for generations to come.

“Our region is already a great place to live in and to visit. To improve this further, we have put forward recommendations that can bring our infrastructural base up to the standards required to deliver on our economic potential and also presented solutions to strengthen our tourism offering ahead of Ryder Cup 2027.

“I would like to sincerely thank the members of the taskforce for their dedication and commitment to this work, collectively contributing thousands of hours of their time in the public interest. On behalf of the taskforce, I would like to express our gratitude to all of the stakeholders across the public and private sectors whose valuable contributions have helped shape our work," said Mr O'Sullivan.