Breezy Blades and Barryroe Banter: Ireland’s Energy Céilí in December 2025

Ireland’s energy scene this December feels like a proper kitchen session—lively, slightly chaotic, and full of good craic. Just last month, ESB and Ørsted’s joint venture clinched provisional rights to develop the 900 MW Tonn Nua fixed-bottom offshore wind farm off County Waterford, at a strike price of €80/MWh—enough clean power for 500,000 homes once operational in the mid-2030s [1]. This milestone bolsters Ireland’s ambitions for 5 GW offshore by 2030 and 20 GW by 2040, amid the nation’s sole 25 MW Arklow Bank farm nearing decommissioning. Yet, fresh seabed surveys have tempered the enthusiasm: vast western waters prove too rocky or remote for fixed turbines, redirecting focus to the shallower east coast for nearer-term viability [2].

Electrically, the setup remains the industry favourite: fixed-bottom HVAC export as the reliable standard, with emerging floating and DC options waiting in the wings [user guideline].

Over in the fossil corner, the Corrib gas field is playing its final reel this month after two decades of supplying up to 60% of Ireland’s gas needs, leaving the country fully reliant on imports for oil and most gas [3]. The Barryroe oil prospect, estimated at 300 million barrels off Cork, stays shelved under the 2021 exploration moratorium, as global crude pressures mount—Brent hovering around €62 per barrel amid forecasts of sustained oversupply into 2026. Fishermen in the Irish Sea add a salty note, protesting the North Irish Sea Array approval over disrupted grounds and scant compensation [4].

Recent papers keep the engineering toe-tapping: a December 2025 study in Electrical Engineering refines thermal management for offshore converter platforms, while an e-Prime article optimises reactive power control in large wind clusters [user guideline].

In summary, if east-coast projects and grid reinforcements keep the rhythm, offshore wind could comfortably lead Ireland’s electricity mix by 2030—leaving natural gas to hum a nostalgic tune from the corner.

Photo by Conor Luddy - References

[1] rte.ie - ESB, Orsted win 900 MW Irish offshore wind tender

[2] extra.ie - Offshore wind hopes fall flat as waters not suitable

[3] irelandenergy2050.ie - Oil and gas | Present | Ireland 2050

[4] thefishingdaily.com - Bad News For Irish Sea Fishermen As 'Major' Wind Farm Approved