Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
203. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on his plans to develop Ireland’s offshore wind energy grid connection capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35335/23]
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 decentralised model to a centralised model as part of the wider transition towards a plan-led Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) regime. The policy envisages that in the centralised model transmission system assets will be planned, developed, owned and operated by EirGrid.
The Phase One projects that were successful in the first Offshore Renewable Support Scheme (O-RESS) auction will build and develop the associated offshore transmission system with ownership to transfer to EirGrid in line with CRU’s Offshore Grid Connection Asset Treatment Decision published in February 2023.
In Phase Two, during which the State is targeting 5 GW of grid connected capacity, offshore transmission infrastructure can be developed by either EirGrid or the projects successful under the second O-RESS auction. Phase Two auction participants will compete to develop offshore wind capacity within Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Designated Areas, which will be designated according to legislative provisions for Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs) in the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021. The location of Phase Two ORE Designated Areas will be geographically aligned with available onshore grid capacity, in addition to being informed by environmental considerations.
While this is a matter for EirGrid, the company have announced plans to build two offshore substations that will connect 900MW of offshore wind off the South coast. Contingent on environmental considerations and Oireachtas approval, the initial Phase Two ORE Designated Area (ORE DMAP) will be adopted by the end of 2023.
