Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
15. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he has examined a recent report on offshore wind energy (details supplied); if recent withdrawals by named corporations from projects confirm the necessity of direct state involvement in offshore wind development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55318/22]
View answerThe report referred to by the Deputy has been brought to my attention and Officials in my Department are reviewing its recommendations. While it is disappointing to see certain companies leave the market at this time, it is not unusual in the normal course of business for such decisions to be taken. In addition, we are seeing many more new developers entering the market and I expect this to continue in the coming years, particularly as development in deeper waters off the west and southwest coast becomes more commercially viable.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 commits to achieving at least 5GW of offshore wind by 2030. The Government has recently agreed to increase our ambition in offshore wind energy with an additional 2GW earmarked for the supply of green hydrogen, a strategy for which is under development. The Programme for Government commits to developing a longer-term plan to realise the potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in our Atlantic waters.
With Ireland’s maritime area being seven times the size of its landmass and our location at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, I am critically aware that the potential for offshore renewable energy in Ireland is enormous. Central to realising this potential is the work of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce. The goal of the Taskforce is to accelerate and drive delivery by public bodies of offshore wind. To achieve this, it is developing a system-wide programme plan, bringing together the work ongoing across Government to deliver on our offshore wind ambitions. It will identify all aspects of work on the critical path, including gaps, risks and opportunities. One of the key objectives of the Taskforce is to ensure that potential economic and societal opportunities associated with the development of the sector are captured. Further information on the Taskforce is published on gov.ie.
