Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

178. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the plans in place to accelerate offshore wind development to meet the 2030 targets and diversify our renewable portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58544/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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.

Furthermore, the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was established to deliver a system-wide plan across Government to accelerate and drive delivery of Ireland’s offshore wind targets and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables.

The Government is fully committed to the development of the renewable energy sector within Ireland, including the Offshore Wind sector, and is working with all stakeholders in order to realise these ambitions.