Ireland’s ambitious offshore wind targets are now being matched by rapid port development, as the country moves from policy to practice — and prepares to fill tens of thousands of jobs in the process.
Ireland wants to generate 5 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030. That’s enough electricity for around 2 million homes — more than any southern European nation plans to build in the same timeframe. But it’s just the start. The long-term vision is 20 gigawatts by 2040 and 37 gigawatts by 2050. This would supply electricity for up to 15 million homes and signal a total shift from fossil fuel imports to native renewable power.
The scale of ambition is striking, especially for a country whose only offshore wind farm — the Arklow Bank Wind Park — is being retired. Right now, Ireland is basically starting from zero. But what it lacks in current infrastructure, it’s making up for with speed and intent.
There’s a clear reason for the urgency. If the wind projects fail, Ireland won’t meet its legally binding climate goals, and the cost of falling short could run up to €26 billion in carbon credits. Beyond emissions, the drive is about self-sufficiency. The war in Ukraine showed just how exposed energy-importing nations can be. Offshore wind, in this context, is more than a green ideal — it’s a matter of national resilience.
It’s also a potential employment engine. A government-commissioned report says offshore wind could deliver 60,000 full-time equivalent years of employment by 2040, averaging around 8,600 jobs a year. These aren’t just jobs in the far future. Many will be needed during the construction phase: welders, engineers, vessel crews, planners, and turbine technicians.
Mark Corcoran, Managing Director of ASL, a safety training firm in Arklow, said the need for skilled operators is “going to be huge.” He points out that the key will be transitioning workers from other industries — electricians and mechanical specialists — into roles that fit offshore.
The education sector is already adapting. Dr. Francis Hardiman, of SETU in Carlow, said Ireland is not starting from a “low base.” The country has trained aerospace engineers for years. Those skills, she said, map closely to what the wind sector needs now: “We pump out the best of engineers, technicians, apprentices, and planners.”
Still, infrastructure will make or break the rollout. Without ports that can handle turbine parts the size of office buildings, the industry stalls. So, ports are now racing the clock.
Rosslare Europort is positioning itself as the national hub for offshore renewables, with a redevelopment plan that includes agreements with Norwegian offshore developer Source Galileo. It could create 2,000 jobs and serve as the main staging post for installation and maintenance.
Down south, the Port of Cork is investing €90 million into new quays, storage space, and assembly areas. A new 200-metre quay wall and 35-acre laydown area are already underway. Chief Executive Anne Doherty says the port wants the wind sector to know it’s ready for business.
Meanwhile, Waterford Port is “practicing,” as its CEO David Sinnott put it. The port is handling onshore wind equipment for now, but preparing to scale up. A new 250-metre quay is in planning and will be dedicated to offshore projects.
Further north, Greenore Port in Louth — run by Doyle Shipping Group — is the only privately-owned port in Ireland and sits just 10 km from a future offshore wind site. The company is investing €30 million in support infrastructure, including buildings for control centers and a pontoon for 12 crew transfer vessels. Their projections suggest a payroll impact of €500 million to the region over the lifespan of the projects.
What’s unfolding across Ireland’s ports is not just a construction story. It’s a pivot — a move to transform sleepy harbors into industrial powerhouses. That means training welders, dredging deeper quays, building vessel berths, and designing logistics chains from scratch.
And that’s the point. Offshore wind isn’t a sideline; it’s a whole new economy.
Source: RTE
