Overview
Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) asked us to examine Ireland’s ambition to export surplus offshore wind generation. This export opportunity analysis included quantifying the economic, industrial, and policy implications of that ambition.
Our export opportunity analysis considered multiple scenarios for offshore wind deployment and export pathways.
We contributed to:
- Defining offshore wind deployment scenarios and associated levelized cost of energy (LCOE)
- Forecasting local content potential for fixed/floating wind, hydrogen, and interconnection projects
- Modelling economic and employment outcomes across different deployment pathways
- Reviewing Ireland’s existing policy frameworks and recommending improvements, and
- Analysing community benefit mechanisms and proposing implementation strategies.
Key challenges
- Accurately forecasting costs and benefits across evolving technologies such as floating wind and green hydrogen
- Understanding the Irish economy’s capacity to support and benefit from rapid offshore wind development
- Identifying potential constraints in supply chains, labour, and regulatory frameworks
- Ensuring the recommendations accounted for social acceptance and equitable community participation.
Key impact
- Delivered a clear export opportunity analysis of offshore wind as a driver of exports and regional economic growth
- Highlighted the importance of alternative domestic offtake, such as industrial use and hydrogen production
- Emphasised the need for a balanced approach between state leadership and private sector delivery to avoid bottlenecks and investor uncertainty.
BVGA team
Alex Russell
Belinda Malone
Graham Gow
