Killybegs and Greencastle named ‘prime spots’ for offshore wind energy
Donegal's Charles Ward TD spoke at Dáil Éireann after Green Party Private Member's Motion
Donegal-based TD, Deputy Charles Ward, told Dáil Éireann that Donegal “has immense potential” and “would benefit hugely from developing offshore wind” when speaking on a Green Party Private Members Motion.
The 100% Redress politician spoke after the Green Party leader, Roderic O’Gorman, put forward his Private Member’s Motion, which corresponded with Earth Day, and highlighted Killybegs and Greencastle as “prime spots” to “develop offshore wind energy.”
Deputy O’Gorman’s motion called on the Government to “recommit to the legally binding target of 51% emission reduction by 2030, remove any provision from draft legislation that limits the effectiveness of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, implement the recommendations of the Independent Advisory Committee on nature restoration and to adequately fund Ireland Nature Restoration Plan, and to protect vulnerable households from the ongoing fossil fuel price crisis through new targeted supports and safeguards, by speeding up access to home energy upgrades, and by ensuring that Ireland develops its own secure and clean renewable energy.”
After thanking Deputy O’Gorman for bringing forward the motion, Deputy Ward said: “I particularly want to share my concern that despite a target of 5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, no offshore wind projects have been delivered. Ireland has huge potential to become a global leader in wind energy, particularly through offshore developments. County Donegal has immense potential given where it is situated, and the amount of wind we gather off the Atlantic Ocean, and it would benefit hugely from developing offshore wind.
“I have spoken previously about the severe deterioration of the fishing industry and what we have seen in recent years. Due to the decline, many fishers are forced to find work abroad. Given the nature of the work and their area of expertise, naturally many of them look for offshore work, but instead of availing of work in Ireland, they are forced to go away to England, Scotland and Germany. The Minister of State would be shocked to know how many constituents in Donegal have to go abroad to find maritime work.
“Given that we are an island nation with huge volumes of wind and marine resources, surely we should be able to provide plenty of work here. Surely fishing towns in Donegal, such as Killybegs and Greencastle, would be prime spots in which to develop offshore wind energy, but once again, we have been held back by a lack of infrastructure
“In a session of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, I was told by Wind Energy Ireland that Donegal has the wind and good water depths, particularly inshore towards Donegal Bay.
“At present, it is challenging for us to generate offshore energy in Donegal because of the electricity grid; it needs to be updated. The lack of grid is probably one of the biggest challenges facing us. To get electricity out of Donegal, we will need a stronger grid, so investment is essential. We can harvest it, but we cannot take it ashore.
“In 2025, 13% of the cheapest electricity was wasted because of the grid. It is simply not strong enough to carry the power that comes from the wind farms, and most of the wind farms are left dormant; they are not moving. We have had to switch the turbines off at time which is absolutely crazy when they could be generating power. The figure is significantly higher in the northwest, where the electricity grid is at its weakest. It is a disgraceful waste when the potential is there, but we have to have the courage and to invest.
“We have to invest in the future, now. In Donegal, if we had a more advanced, up-to-date grid that could handle this, we could be in a prime location to harvest the power and take it ashore.
“The wind-breaking technology is there. Wave breakers are all over the north of Scotland, and they are generating power. We have to have the courage, we have to have the belief and deliver.”