
Ireland possesses one of the world’s highest offshore renewable energy potentials, with up to 73,000 MW available from wind, wave, and tidal sources, and the sector is set to grow significantly, particularly in offshore wind farm operations in the Irish Sea, with £17 billion in investment from the UK alone. Ports play a crucial role in supporting this industry, and the Irish Ports Offshore Renewable Energy Services (IPORES) report evaluates 14 Irish ports for their capacity to meet these demands, categorizing them based on infrastructure readiness. While ports in the UK and Germany have already developed dedicated facilities, Irish port stakeholders have raised concerns about the lack of coordination, clear leadership, and a streamlined foreshore licensing system. Recommendations include creating a national website to centralize port information, conducting a detailed analysis of job creation potential, and assessing government initiatives in competing European locations to position Ireland as a key player in offshore renewable energy.