Energy Minister Eamon Ryan today published the Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan for public consultation.

Ireland's ocean territory is 10 times our land mass size. This Plan, in conjunction with the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Irish Waters also published today, looks at offshore wind, wave and tidal energy resources and how that could be maximised in the years ahead.

Crucially, this work found that Ireland could produce up to 10 times our existing electricity demand without significant environmental impacts.

Announcing the plan at the Irish International Energy Conference – Pathway to 2050, Minister Ryan said, "This Government has begun an energy revolution. We have doubled the amount of renewable energy on our system and we want to go further.

Every megawatt of renewable energy that goes onto the Irish national grid reduces our €6 billion annual fossil fuel bill, reduces our carbon emissions and creates Irish jobs. Today's study shows that we have a massive potential for renewable energy off our shores. Wind, wave and tidal off the Irish coast can produce 10 times our own electricity needs without adversely affecting the environment.

My Department is working to maximise this potential. Our recovery will be based on exports. Our capacity to produce this green electricity gives us major export potential. We are working with Scotland and Northern Ireland on the ISLES project to develop interconnection with these close neighbours. Working is advancing with 9 countries across Europe on the North Seas initiative to develop a 'supergrid' to trade this renewable power. At the end of this month I will travel to London to meet Secretary Huhne to work out a trading agreement with the United Kingdom on renewable energy.

We can create more power than we require if we go off our coasts. This is Ireland's great export opportunity and we will work to realise it".

The plan goes to public consultation around the country for 2 months where developers, investors and local communities can give their views.