Simply Blue, EDF Renewables team up on 2.65 GW of Irish floating wind

May 31 (Renewables Now) - EDF Renewables Ireland, part of French electricity company EDF (EPA:EDF), has teamed up with Cork, Ireland-based developer Simply Blue Group to develop two floating offshore wind projects in Ireland with a potential combined capacity of up to 2.65 GW.

Subject to a merger clearance, a 50:50 joint venture between the parties will progress the Western Star and Emerald floating wind projects of Simply Blue to address the Irish government’s goal of having 2 GW of floating wind in development by 2030.

The Western Star project, to be located off the west coast of Clare, will have a total capacity of up to 1.35 GW, while Emerald, to be sited off the south coast of Cork, will feature up to 1.3 GW of turbines. Simply Blue previously partnered with Shell to deliver the projects, but the oil group later withdrew from the developments.

Matthieu Hue, chief executive of EDF Renewables UK and Ireland, said that Emerald and Western Star will complement the company’s flagship, fixed-bottom Codling Wind Park project off the east coast of Ireland, as well as add to EDF Renewables’ global floating wind portfolio that includes the Gwynt Glas project in the Celtic Sea and Provence Grand Large off the south coast of France.

Codling Wind Park was recently successful in Ireland’s first offshore wind auction.

“Simply Blue are delighted to partner with EDF Renewables to deliver these strategic assets and to deliver Ireland’s first floating offshore wind farms,” stated Simply Blue Group chief executive Sam Roch Perks.