Minister Dara Calleary leads trade mission to Wind Europe 2023 to promote Ireland’s significant offshore wind capability

Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Dara Calleary T.D. is today leading Enterprise Ireland’s trade mission to Wind Europe, which is taking place in Copenhagen, to launch and promote Ireland’s significant wind energy capability.

A delegation of 11 Enterprise Ireland client companies will attend Wind Europe this week, which is one of Europe's largest trade shows for the global wind industry and will gather the most innovative minds and key decision makers worldwide.

It will provide Irish exporters with in-depth insights, new disruptive knowledge, and unmissable networking with key players in the global industry.
There is a significant shortage of capability globally in the offshore wind sector. As an island nation, this creates opportunities for Irish companies with relevant skill sets, products, and services. Examples of Irish companies that are working internationally in the industry include: XOCEAN, Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions, Inland and Coastal Marina Services, Vilicom, among many more.

In 2022 Enterprise Ireland brought together the Irish Offshore Wind capability at SME level into its Gael Offshore Network – this is an industry cluster of 85 Irish companies that the state agency supports through a range of activities, including market study visits such as Wind Europe.

Speaking ahead of Ireland’s participation at Wind Europe 2023, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation, Dara Calleary T.D., said “I am delighted to lead this trade mission to Wind Europe 2023, which is a landmark event in the global wind industry calendar and a major opportunity for Irish companies to showcase their offerings to leaders in the sector. There is an increasing global demand for wind energy capabilities and Irish companies are leading the way in bringing innovative products and solutions to the offshore wind market. The knowledge sharing and networking with global industry representatives at events such as this will help Irish companies to tap into current and future opportunities on a global scale.

“The Nordics offer Irish companies’ significant opportunities to scale and grow their business. In 2022 alone exports of Enterprise Ireland supported companies to the Nordic region reached €1.33bn. This represents a 11% growth on the previous year and is a remarkable achievement - a result of the innovation at the core of these companies.”

Speaking about the trade mission, Mark Christal, Divisional Manager for Food & Sustainability, Enterprise Ireland said: “There are significant growth opportunities for Irish companies in the offshore wind space. Like Ireland, Denmark is a small European country yet as the first country in the world to deploy offshore wind, it is a superpower in the global wind industry. This event provides Irish companies an opportunity to network with all the major players and learn from another country that is not that dissimilar to our own.”

"Our presence at Wind Europe builds on the formation of Gael Offshore Network by Enterprise Ireland last year. EI companies within the Network have have made substantial progress securing contracts globally in recent years, tackling the sector’s most urgent technology challenges and identifying collaboration and innovation opportunities with fellow cluster members, this event will further enhance Ireland’s reputation worldwide and build on recent success stories for the industry.”

Enterprise Ireland client company exports to Denmark were over €435m in 2022 an increase of 42% on the previous year. Since Enterprise Ireland established its office in Copenhagen in late 2019, over 20 Irish companies have also established a presence in Denmark.

As the first country in the world to deploy offshore wind, and a key innovator with companies such as Vestas and Orsted, the wind industry is a cornerstone of the Danish economy. Denmark is the leading digital economy in the EU and offers strong business opportunities in life sciences, big data, cleantech, cyber security and fintech.