The Government has published its “Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy” (ORE), which includes 29 key actions to develop the State’s plan-led approach to offshore wind.
A draft designated maritime area plan (DMAP) for the Irish south coast is due to be announced on Friday (May 3).
Described by Minister for Environment and Climate Eamon Ryan as “Ireland’s most exciting industrial opportunity for decades”, the “Future Framework” sets out the pathway Ireland will take to deliver 20GW of offshore wind by 2040 and at least 37GW in total by 2050.
“Critically, it also provides the evidence base for Ireland’s ambitious ORE targets,” Ryan’s department says.
The framework is one of the key actions published by the Government under the Offshore Wind Energy Programme, the system-wide plan developed by the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce.
“Ireland’s offshore wind programme is progressing to plan, meeting each of its three-phased objectives and timelines,”Ryan’s department says.
The framework includes 29 key actions and is built on an analysis of economic opportunities to encourage investment and “maximise the financial and economic return of offshore renewable energy to the State and local communities”.
It also explores “the potential to export excess renewable energy through increased interconnection”, and analyses “opportunities for using excess renewable energy for alternative energy products and services that can be fed into international markets”.
Ryan’s department says the “guiding principles of the policy” include “the protection of maritime environment and biodiversity, affordability of energy for consumers, an equitable return to communities, alignment of policy and infrastructure, inspiring confidence for investment, emphasising technological innovation, illuminating opportunities for return to the state and prioritising stakeholder and public engagement”.
Welcoming the framework, Ryan said: “Renewable energy projects are poised to revolutionise our economy, offering significant regional and national economic benefits while giving us more control over our energy sovereignty.”
“Our offshore wind energy is potentially the largest domestic source of electricity that can replace volatile, imported fossil fuels. It also gives us our most exciting industrial opportunity for decades as we plan to not only power our own country, but export our excess energy to power Europe,”he said.
“This is a dynamic, fast-paced and evolving landscape and we are setting out our Future Framework now so that we will be ready, along with our local communities and business partners, for the future of all potential offshore renewable energy sources, including fixed and floating wind, wave and tidal renewable energy,” he said.
“Going to our Atlantic Ocean is not something that can happen overnight. The technology needed to harness the Atlantic’s enormous potential is still being developed globally,” he said.
“But, this strategy provides our planned, evidenced-based approach to realising our energy potential, and we will ensure that Ireland’s west coast is on the cutting edge of this development,” he said.
The publication of the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy follows a five-week period of public consultation that took place earlier this year.
The policy is available on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications website.
An economic market analysis on the viability of ORE targets and potential export opportunities was carried out as part of the work to develop the framework.
The reports, which were produced by AFRY Managing Consultants and BVG Associates, focus on five areas: market analysis; interconnection; renewable hydrogen; export viability; and societal return, and are also available on the department website.