Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2022
46. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the opportunity for Ireland to become an international leader on offshore energy creation providing a comprehensive and clear cut regime is quickly put in place (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46737/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
With Ireland’s maritime area seven times the size of its landmass and our location at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, the potential for offshore renewable energy (ORE) is enormous. My Department continues to work to realise this potential in line with our targets and identified actions. As part of this, I have established a cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce in order to accelerate and drive delivery and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of ORE in Ireland.
The Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) will be established in early 2023. In the interim, the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021 provides the legal authority for the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Communications to assess Maritime Area Consent (MAC) applications from a set of pre-qualified offshore renewable energy projects. Decisions on the first MACs will be issued this year, allowing successful projects to apply for planning permission from An Bord Pleanála.
My Department has held a consultation on the criteria for the second batch of offshore projects required to meet our 2030 offshore energy targets, with a decision on these criteria to be taken later this year.
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. Work is in progress on updating the first Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan. It will provide an evidence base for identifying the most suitable areas for the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy beyond 2030 and will be an important planning tool as Ireland transitions to an enduring plan-led regime for offshore renewable energy beyond 2030.
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.
