Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 17 April 2024

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Offshore Wind Energy Strategy: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Mr. Jack McDermot:

By 2030 if we have 5 GW of power from offshore wind, it will be in line with targets. Today grid demand is between 6 GW and 7 GW but by the time we electrify the grid, move all the electric cars onto it and so on, we think we need about 10 GW to 12 GW. We are a good bit of the way there. By 2040, we should have 20 GW from offshore wind, roughly double what we need for the grid, heat pumps, electric cars and so on. By 2050, if we have 37 GW and allow for a bit of stretching in what the grid needs to, say,15 GW, then the difference between 15 GW and 37 GW is what we would have to play with for export or for adding value through new industrial opportunities in Ireland.