Róisín Shortall
Question:861. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he is taking to promote the development of offshore wind energy generation. [45763/18]
View answerTuesday, 6 November 2018
Questions (861)
Written answers
The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out the Government’s policy for the sustainable development of our offshore renewable energy resources. Offshore renewable energy covers a number of technology types and includes wind (fixed and floating), wave and tidal, all of which rely on harnessing the motion of wind or water to generate energy. Of these technology types fixed offshore wind has reached the commercial stage, while floating wind, wave and tidal technology are still at the experimental stage globally. Floating wind has the potential to be deployed in deeper waters and as such could have potential for development off the south and west coasts of Ireland. Bottom fixed wind turbines are limited to relatively shallow waters. To date, Ireland has only one offshore fixed wind farm generating electricity in Irish waters. The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind could be sustainably developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030. An interim review of the OREDP was published in May and is available on my Department’s website www.dccae.gov.ie. The Offshore Renewable Energy Steering Group, which oversees the implementation of the OREDP will now consider the recommendations of the review and continue the work of implementing the actions and enablers set out in the Plan.
Between 2014 and 2017 capital funding of €17.7 million was allocated by my Department under the OREDP for research and development of offshore renewable energy technology, with a further €4.5 million allocated in 2018.
The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was approved by Government in July and is now subject to the EU state aid approval process. It is expected the first RESS auction will be held in 2019. The new Scheme has been designed to incentivise sufficient new renewable electricity generation to deliver Ireland’s contribution to the EU wide renewable energy target of 32% for 2030. Technology diversity, including solar PV and offshore wind, will occur naturally as the scheme matures and certain intervention levers may be used within each auction round to promote certain policy objectives such as community participation, community ownership and diversifying the renewable energy mix.
Legislative proposals have been led by the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government to draft the Maritime Area and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill, including provisions to address the absence of a regulatory framework to regulate offshore renewable energy developments beyond the limits of the foreshore (12 nautical miles). If we are to attract investment in the offshore renewable energy sector, it is critical that a robust, streamlined consenting regime is provided to regulate activities in the maritime area.