Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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143. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has considered bringing forward a ring-fenced auction specifically for floating offshore wind energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12531/22]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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144. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the current floating offshore target for 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12532/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 144 together.  

The Climate Action Plan 2021 includes a suite of actions to realise the full potential of the totality of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy resources. This will include floating offshore wind energy. The Programme for Government commits to the achievement of 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 and a further commitment to develop a longer-term plan to harness the estimated potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters.

The 5GW target will be primarily met through development of offshore renewable energy in Ireland’s eastern and southern coastal regions. This reflects the suitability of water depths in these regions for deployment of conventional fixed bottom offshore wind turbines and existing electricity grid infrastructure to connect these projects to the onshore grid. Subsequent cost-effective deployment of renewables in deeper waters off the west coast, to take advantage of greater wind resources, should be increasingly feasible through future advances in floating turbine technology. The Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act 2021 provides the legal underpinning to an entirely new marine planning system, which will balance harnessing our huge offshore wind potential while protecting our rich and unique marine environment. Work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP II) is currently in progress and will be completed this year. This will set out the pathway for the development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030.  

In Q1 2022, my Department opened a consultation on the proposed assessment criteria for the first batch of Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications from a set of seven qualified ORE projects. Consultation will also shortly conclude on how the second batch of projects (Phase Two) will be selected to enter the new consenting system. This includes a proposal to allow for an Innovation Category in Phase Two which may be of specific interest to developers of floating offshore wind energy designs.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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145. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the actions he is taking to build a supply chain industry in Ireland for offshore wind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12533/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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My Department is currently preparing for the first offshore wind auction later this year under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1) to support the first phase of offshore wind development in Ireland. These proposed terms and conditions include a requirement for each successful project in ORESS 1 to headquarter its operation and maintenance facilities on the island of Ireland. As offshore renewable energy remains an emerging sector in Ireland, successful projects in ORESS 1 will also be required to complete a Project Delivery Plan Questionnaire, with particular emphasis on domestic supply chain development, to better inform Government policy and design of future ORESS auctions. As referenced in the Climate Action Plan 2021, a cross-Departmental Offshore Renewable Energy Team, chaired by my Department, is being established to capture the wider economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland. This is being set up in conjunction with the Marine2040 groups to ensure consistency across the State maritime planning system. It will include the identification of supporting infrastructure and supply chain opportunities as Ireland’s offshore wind industry becomes established.

As part of this work, my Department has been working closely with the Department of Transport and the Irish Maritime Development Office to examine the potential to ensure that Irish ports are in a position to benefit from the offshore wind development programme. The Department of Transport, in conjunction with the Irish Maritime Development Office, has conducted an assessment of the options for Irish State ports to facilitate development of offshore renewable energy in Ireland, and will shortly publish an associated policy statement. The statement will outline the proposed strategy for the provision of infrastructure at ports to facilitate development and future operation of offshore renewable energy projects.