Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
31. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his plans to develop strategies to develop grid infrastructure to advance and accelerate the deployment of offshore wind technology off Ireland’s west coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55421/22]
View answerA new framework for Ireland’s offshore electricity transmission system was approved by Government in April 2021 with the associated policy statement providing for a phased transition from the current decentralised model to a centralised model to take place in line with the offshore RESS auctions this decade as part of the wider transition towards a plan led Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) regime.
The policy envisages that the enduring centralised model will be established by the third offshore RESS auction, with transmission system assets to be planned, developed, owned and operated by EirGrid. This centralised plan led model has been identified as delivering maximum societal benefits.
In addition, work on a revised Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP II) is currently in progress. This will set out the pathway for the development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030.
The Government anticipates that the overwhelming majority of ORE to be delivered by 2030 will be located off Ireland’s East and South coasts, with delivery on the West coast to follow thereafter. This is due to the suitability of East and South coast waters for fixed bottom turbines and available grid capacity. This position is consistent with the underlying analysis in ‘Shaping Our Electricity Future’, published by EirGrid in October 2021.
