Written answers

Wednesday, 15 October 2025

Department of Environment, Community and Local Government

Wind Energy Generation

Photo of Pa DalyPa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proportion of the 2030 target for onshore wind that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55840/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government 2025 has reaffirmed Ireland’s targets of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewable energy sources, this includes a target of 9GW of onshore wind generation.

Ireland currently has circa 7GW of renewable generation capacity. Onshore wind is the largest contributor to this, with circa 5.1GW of wind generation capacity and 1.7GW of solar PV installed, with hydro, biomass, and other small sources contributing the remainder.

Government policy is focused on maintaining this momentum and delivering on our ambitious targets. To enable such a transformation of our energy system, a range of supporting measures will also be required. This will involve the development of a balanced portfolio of technologies, including solar, storage and flexibility services to complement other measures such as demand-side response, network development and interconnection to ensure a safe and secure electricity system with increased levels of renewables.

This will require unprecedented levels of investment in renewable electricity generation development and in the infrastructure required to expand and strengthen our electricity grid.

The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce was established to accelerate and increase the deployment of onshore renewable electricity generation by focusing on the three key pillars of renewables development – Route to Market, Grid Development, and Planning. This cross-Government Taskforce is identifying and prioritising the required policies needed to achieve our onshore renewable electricity targets and ensuring that barriers to the implementation of these policies are removed or minimised to the greatest extent possible.

The revised National Planning Framework includes regional renewable electricity capacity allocations. The inclusion of the allocations will facilitate the accelerated roll-out and delivery of onshore wind and solar development. These allocations will be integrated into Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, which will, in turn, inform city and county development plans.

Photo of Pa DalyPa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proportion of the 2030 target for offshore wind that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55841/25]

Photo of Darragh O'BrienDarragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Government remains committed to the development of 5GW of offshore wind capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter. Ireland's 5GW target will be met through a combination of projects from Phase One and from within the South Coast DMAP.

Five offshore wind projects are presently in development off our East Coast. These projects account for approximately 3.8GW of generating capacity, more than 60% of our present peak electricity demand. Applications for planning consent for all five projects are with An Comisiúin Pleanála. Subject to planning consent, it is anticipated that projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational by the early 2030s.

Separately, an offshore wind auction process for the 900 megawatt Tonn Nua site off our South Coast opened on 22 September and final results of that auction will be announced on 9 December. This site is within the South Coast DMAP. The Tonn Nua project is expected to be operational by 2034, subject to planning consent.

My Department is making arrangements to bring the remaining three offshore wind South Coast DMAP sites to market, ensuring a consistent pipeline of offshore developments will take place over the coming years. A further pipeline of development sites within the National DMAP will follow from 2028 onwards.

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