Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment regarding the offshore renewable energy technology roadmap, which has 3.2 gigawatt hours (Gwh) as its baseline target for offshore renewable energy in 2030, which is below the 5Gwh target; the reason there is a discrepancy between these two targets, if it is anticipated that the 5GWh will not be reached by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37068/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan (CAP) 2024 commits to achieving at least 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030.

The recently published Offshore Renewable Energy Technology Roadmap is an advisory report which has been prepared by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to inform strategic planning and policy development. The SEAI’s Technology Roadmap clearly states that Ireland’s ambition is to deliver 5GW of offshore wind by 2030. This Roadmap maps the pathway to harnessing Ireland's ORE potential by assessing the readiness of technologies and considering both the latest technology innovations, and key future innovations, for ORE technologies relevant to the Irish context.

The Technology Roadmap sets out four deployment scenarios to 2050, which are indicative only and not intended to represent a forecast.

The 3.2GW of fixed offshore wind baseline scenario outlined in the Technology Roadmap reflects the GW capacity of the projects successful in the first offshore auction known as ORESS 1. The two unsuccessful ORESS projects are pursuing alternative routes to market.

The six Phase One projects, representing a combined potential ORE capacity of 4.2GW, have already, or are planning to, submit applications for planning permission. 

In addition, Government is advancing ORESS 2.1 to auction the 900MW capacity in the Tonn Nua site of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), which will bring the State's total ORE capacity above Ireland’s 2030 targets.

The Technology Roadmap is a technical report and not a statement of Government policy. This roadmap will remain under review and will be updated as required and when significant technology or market developments demand it. It considers generating technologies only, and does not examine the development of wider enabling technologies such as interconnection, hydrogen, efuels and other grid flexibility technologies.