Innogy has 2 billion euros ($2.14 billion) to spend after
raising the capital through its German stock listing in October
and renewable energy projects are high on the list.
Innogy said it wants to grow in Ireland by building new onshore
wind farms as well as buying operational ones.
"We are actively pursuing a number of different opportunities.
Although some of the discussions are at an advanced stage, I am
not able to disclose any further details at this time," said
Cathal Hennessey, Innogy's newly appointed managing director for
renewables in Ireland. He joined from solar power developer
Lightsource.
Innogy, Germany's largest energy company, is one of Europe's
biggest renewable energy investors, owning 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of
green energy projects and another 4.4 GW in development.
The opening of Innogy's office in Kilkenny will mark the
company's, including RWE, first entry into Ireland and Hennessey
said he will be recruiting staff as the business grows in
Ireland.
Ireland plans to generate 40 percent of its electricity from
renewable energy sources by 2020, a target that requires yearly
onshore wind capacity growth of 250 megawatts (MW), according to
the Irish government.
(Reporting by Karolin Schaps; editing by Susan Thomas)
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