Shell to partner Simply Blue Group on 1.35GW Irish floating offshore wind farm

Shell has agreed to acquire a 51% stake in Simply Blue Group’s Western Star venture. 

The partners aim to co-develop up to 1.35GW of floating wind capacity in the Atlantic Ocean, 35-60km off County Clare where the water depths exceed 100 metres. 

A 300-450MW first phase would be followed by a 700MW-900MW second phase. The first phase could feature turbines of 15-18MW capacity. 

Simply Blue Group had announced plans for the 1350MW Western Star Wind Western Star Wind (1350MW) Offshoreoff County Clare, Ireland, Europe Click to see full details project earlier this year.

The project office would be based at Simply Blue Group’s headquarters in Cork. Earlier this year, the pair agreed to co-develop the 300MW Emerald Emerald (300MW) Offshoreoff Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland, Europe Click to see full details floating project in the Celtic Sea off Kinsale, County Cork. There, a 300MW development is planned initially, with the potential to scale-up to 1GW.

Hessel de Jong, general manager of European offshore wind at Shell, said: “Working alongside coastal communities to create shared value is key to success for both the Western Star floating wind project and the previously announced Emerald project, which is why we have chosen to work with Simply Blue Group.” 

Co-founder and chief commercial director of Simply Blue Group Hugh Kelly added that there was “tremendous wind potential off the west coast of Ireland”.