Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
170. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to develop trade links with other relevant countries in the offshore wind sector with a view to Ireland becoming a major clean energy exporter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22996/22]
View answerThe Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan highlight the key role that offshore renewable energy will play in achieving Ireland’s increased energy and climate ambition and include the objective of achieving 5GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Programme for Government further commits to developing a longer-term plan to take advantage of up to 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our deeper Atlantic waters, which would enable Ireland to become a major regional generator and exporter of offshore renewable energy.
Work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP II) is currently in progress and will be completed this year. This will set out the pathway for the development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030. A cross-departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce has been established to accelerate delivery of offshore wind actions and ensure alignment of activities in progress across Government. One of the key objectives of the Taskforce is to ensure the longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables are captured.
To facilitate this overarching ambition, my Department will continue to support development of regional offshore electricity grids and engagement with viable proposed new offshore infrastructure projects, including electricity interconnectors. The Climate Action Plan further requires that my department will this year update the National Policy Statement on Electricity Interconnection of 2018, in order to provide for further connectivity with our neighbours.
In addition to the above, it is important to highlight the technical discussions focused on the establishment of European offshore grids that are taking place in working groups within the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), of which Ireland holds the rotating Presidency during 2022.
