The Irish Wind Energy Association (IWEA) has welcomed the signing of an historic deal between Ireland and the UK Government that will potentially pave the way for exploiting Ireland’s unique wind energy resources. Both Governments have agreed to co-operate on developing the major wind and marine resource in and around Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
IWEA chief executive Dr Michael Walsh says the deal may be seen in time as a milestone moment for Ireland in terms of maximizing the potential of the wind sector.
“It’s early days yet and we await the detail of what’s in the deal but it certainly is a major step in the right direction and potentially paves the way for what we believe could be a €1.6 billion annual export industry for Ireland and total new employment in the sector of 28,000 jobs,” he explains. “This deal, perhaps more than anything else that has gone before recognises the huge potential from wind energy on the island of Ireland given that it is a trading partner and not just ourselves that has recognised that the wind resource we have here is unique and largely underutilised. We have long since in the IWEA trumpeted the potential for exporting wind energy from Ireland and this deal will hopefully bring it to fruition, sooner rather than later.”