Ireland’s state forestry group Coillte is seeking partners to advance 1GW of wind projects as it seeks to exploit the “exceptional potential” of its landbank for renewables.

Coillte could include the sale of its existing 150MW of wind interests as part of a strategy to fund future developments, the Irish group said, as it announced the appointment of corporate advisers to help it plan a way forward.

The part-state-owned business – which runs 7% of Ireland’s landmass – will explore a “range of partnership and/or joint venture models”, and will invite “interested parties in the wind, solar and wider renewable energy sector” to take part in a “competitive dialogue”.

That is likely to be followed by a tender process in 2018.

Coillte has a 25-project pipeline with a potential to exceed 1GW, comprising “significant diversity in terms of geographic split, size and wind resource”, it said in a statement.

The foreseter is already involved in wind development via joint activities with energy sector players ESB, Bord na Móna and SSE, with a 150MW share of a total 300MW of operating assets.

Coillte said it “ may look to incorporate some or all of such assets” into any arrangement for wider development.

CEO Fergal Leamy said: “Our approach to maximising the potential of our future renewable energy plans and our existing assets is an integral part of the company’s transformation strategy designed to enable Coillte to become the best forestry and land solutions company in Europe.

“Our renewable energy business has exceptional potential and we need to make the right decisions to maximise that potential.”

Coillte said a fully-developed 1GW wind portfolio would add 33% to Ireland’s current renewable power output.

Ireland had 2.8GW of wind installed by the end of 2016, according to figures from WindEurope.