Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
187. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the arrangements that are being put in place to ensure that adjacent local communities will be able to acquire a stake in offshore wind projects as the host communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62602/21]
View answerMy Department has just this month completed a public consultation on the draft terms and conditions for the first offshore wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme, ORESS 1, which will support the first phase of offshore wind development in Ireland. The submissions are now being considered in preparation of a formal response early next year.
Ireland's ambitious offshore target of 5GW by 2030 will require investment of billions of euro in Ireland’s offshore renewable energy sector, which will deliver considerable benefits to coastal communities in terms of high-value jobs, and indigenous supply chains. The significant role for regional ports in development of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy sector, and the need for investment in port infrastructure, will also benefit local coastal communities through employment and commercial opportunities.
A medium-size offshore windpark now entails installed capacity of circa 500MW and a corresponding capital expenditure of over €1.5 billion, accordingly to the latest estimates provided by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). It is proposed that the RESS auction for offshore would mandate a community benefit fund payment of €2 for every MW/hour of energy generated. Given the anticipated high levels of offshore generating potential, this will ensure multi-million Euro contributions per offshore project, per annum, to offshore communities over the entire duration of the project.
Local communities are central to the decision-making processes of community engagement initiatives as part of Ireland’s offshore renewable energy commitments under the Climate Action Plan. In order to ensure the highest levels of good governance and administration of the community benefit funds, guidance will be provided to local communities, stakeholders such as local fishers and the offshore industry itself to encourage and facilitate good design of local benefit schemes.
