€250m trade centre investment mooted for Tubber
A massive trade and distribution centre which has the potential to create over 5,000 jobs has been mooted for a site previously linked with ambitious plans for an international airport in the Tubber area.
Backers describe “Innovation Green” as a new initiative established to create the first 100% independent renewable energy microgrid in Ireland, and in turn, to develop a "low carbon trade and industry campus.”
“It's a trade and distribution centre located adjacent to the airport site. It includes trade and distribution facilities but also research and innovation facilities in conjunction with the Technological University in Munich and InSight Bavaria,” according to Patrick Little from Innovation Green, a Tullamore-based architect previously behind the plans to get an airport on the same site off the ground.
“In simple terms, this is a park powered by 100% renewable from local sources on an independent grid, so it would be separate to the national grid in conjunction with Siemens,” he added.
The 100% green energy sources powering the entire campus industrial zone will operate as a distributed energy system and include wind, solar, waste to energy, hydrogen and anaerobic digestion, the backers said. It will also function as a “living laboratory” for autonomous cars, smart storage & distribution, artificial intelligence and other technologies.
The hugely ambitious proposals have received a lot of international support so far, Mr Little said, and it is perfectly aligned with the transition from traditional energy to a low carbon economy that the Midlands is currently grappling with.
He called on the government to support the plans.
“There is a lot of concern about jobs prospects in the Midlands with climate change and the move traditional sources of energy to new sources. This is a solution,” he maintained.
The centre is being pitched at logistics and freight companies and the food industry. He predicted it could provide 250-400 new jobs in the construction and first phase of operation.
It is not a replacement for the airport plans but is not “wholly dependent” on it either, he said and the full site will be developed over time.
Asked why details are only emerging days before an election, Mr Little said given the concern about local jobs and all of the discussion about the Just Transition they felt this is the right time.
“We are hoping to have the energy grid and initial buildings infrastructure established by 2025,” he said.
The park would developed in phases and would total over a billion euro investment when fully complete.
“We are looking at €200-250 million investment in the initial phase,” he explained.
“Siemens is delighted to support this project by providing technical expertise in the areas of Smart Grid, Campus and Buildings in this exciting project”, says Gary O’Callaghan CEO of Siemens Ireland.
The "Innovation Green" idea, which has been developing together with researchers and industry representatives from Ireland and Germany, is aimed at creating safer, cleaner, smarter development zones and learning lessons that could be applied around the world. “It is key to our sustainable growth that we develop in a new way to decarbonise industry in Europe – Ireland may gain competitive advantage as an industry location by offering carbon-efficient investment sites.
Considering the role that the Midlands has historically played in the energy sector, it is the natural place to start Ireland’s next chapter in developing renewable and sustainable energy,” stated Daniel Gottschald of InSite Bavaria.
The plan for the independent distributed renewable energy grid on 1,800 acres is a big step forward to seeing the overall masterplan being developed, the group said.