RSK Ireland working on EIA for floating offshore wind demonstration site project

RSK Ireland win EIA Project supporting the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with the AFLOWT (Accelerating Market Uptake of Floating Offshore Wind Technology)  project

RSK Ireland are part of RSK Group Ltd and are delighted to announce that we are working with SEAI to lead the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase of their AFLOWT Project (Accelerating Market Uptake of Floating Offshore Wind Technology) at the Atlantic Marine Energy Test site (AMETS) in Belmullet Co. Mayo.

RSK’s Marine Team are managing the EIA Process with support from other areas of the RSK business, including sister company Nicholas O’ Dwyer, based in Dublin. During the project we will also be supported by other trusted sub-consultants including BlueWise Marine, who will coordinate a number of Public and Stakeholder meetings throughout the EIAR phase of the project.

The Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) located off Annagh Head, west of Belmullet in County Mayo, was previously consented under a proposed development by SEAI for the development of a test site for full-scale wave energy converters (WECs). The addition of Floating Offshore Wind to the lease at AMETS is the basis under which the EIAR is taking place.  SEAI is a partner in the AFLOWT project funded under the Interreg North West Europe Low Carbon theme. One of the main objectives of the project is the demonstration of a high-survivability, cost-competitive Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) technology. RSK have been appointed by SEAI to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment to apply for a development consent to deploy FOW technology at the site, supported by the AFLOWT Project.  An industry wide questionnaire has been issued recently which will help develop the project design envelope. This can be found here.

Speaking about the contract Dr. Dave Watson, RSK’s Project Director and Acting MD of the International Project Group said:

“We are delighted to work with SEAI and our wider team to manage the EIA phase of the AFLOWT Project.  RSK Group will capitalise on our knowledge drawn from over 20 years’ leadership of OWF EIAs, including our experience with FOW projects across Europe.”

David O’Hagan, Managing Director of RSK Ireland, said:

“It is an interesting time to be working in the marine industry with the launch earlier in the summer of the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF), Ireland’s first national framework for managing marine activities. We are delighted to be supporting SEAI as they help the Irish Government deliver the country’s ambitious offshore renewable targets, through enactment in due course of the new legislative framework of the Maritime Area Planning Bill (the MAP Bill).”