Seán Kelly, MEP for Ireland South hosted the high level event, “Powering up Europe: Ireland’s offshore wind potential,” in the European Parliament, in partnership with SSE

On the September 26th, Sean Kelly MEP in collaboration with a leading renewable energy generator, SSE, organised an event in the European Parliament to discuss how to unlock Ireland’s offshore wind to help boost European energy security and deliver on Europe’s climate ambition.

The recent energy crisis has placed even more focus and urgency on the need to decarbonise our economy and accelerate the generation of homegrown clean energy. As we electrify our economy and switch to clean hydrogen, Europe will need to access the renewable energy resources across the Continent. The offshore wind potential of Ireland is vast, likely to outweigh the country’s demand over time, and can be of great European significance with coordinated infrastructure plans and the right market arrangements in place.

The event  discussed how to build on North Seas Energy Cooperation to deliver on Ireland’s strategic resource that could present shared benefits for both Ireland and the rest of Europe.

The speakers included:

• Ambassador Barbara Cullinane – Ireland
• Stefano Grassi – Head of Cabinet of Commissioner Simson
• Alistair Phillips-Davies – CEO, SSE
• Sonya Twohig – Secretary General ENTSO-E
• Kristian Ruby – Secretary General Eurelectric