Written answers

Thursday, 5 November 2020

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Wind Energy Generation

Photo of Seán SherlockSeán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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64. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on offshore floating wind given the programme for Government stated ambition for 30 GW of floating wind potential; and the measures being taken to ensure progress towards this transformative opportunity for job creation and clean renewable energy export for Ireland. [34219/20]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government commits to producing a plan setting out a path to achieve 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 as well as a longer term plan setting out how we will take advantage of the massive potential of offshore energy on the Atlantic Coast, in particular taking advantage of a potential of at least 30 GW of offshore floating wind power in the Atlantic. This plan will focus on utilising our existing energy and maritime infrastructure and will seek to create the right investment environment and support ocean energy research where necessary in the areas of floating wind, tidal, and wave power. Commercial floating wind turbines are mostly at the early phase of development but show a lot of promise in the near term. The Atlantic Marine Energy Test site in Belmullet Co. Mayo is being developed by the SEAI in order to test full scale pre-commercial offshore energy technologies. The main focus for the test site since 2018 has been the AFLOWT project which aims to build a full-scale floating wind device to deploy and test. This will demonstrate the investability of floating wind technology and promote its uptake in North West Europe and globally.

Realising the potential of our offshore resources requires significant work to develop the legal, regulatory and economic regime. The Programme for Government commits to taking the following steps in this regard:

- Holding the first Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auction by the end of 2020, with auctions held each year thereafter, including the first RESS auction for offshore wind in 2021;

- Giving cross-government priority to the drafting of the Marine Planning and Development Bill, so it is enacted within nine months.

- Producing a whole-of-government plan setting out how we will deliver at least 70% renewable electricity by 2030 and how we will develop the necessary skills base, supply chains, legislation, and infrastructure to enable it.

Good progress is already being made on these commitments and my Department is engaged with other Departments and agencies regarding the potential of Ireland’s supply chain in this area. The development of our offshore wind sector presents significant opportunities to Irish businesses, communities and the economy as a whole.

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