Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 December 2025
82. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to outline the proportion of the 2030 target for offshore wind that has been achieved (energised) to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72958/25]
View answerGovernment remains committed to the development of 5,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity with projects in construction by 2030 and energised as soon as feasible thereafter.
The Maritime Area Planning Act which established a new framework for the planning and regulation of development and activities within Ireland's maritime area was enacted in 2021. Subsequently, the Maritime Area Consents (MACs) for 6 offshore wind projects were issued in 2022. Ireland's first offshore wind auction, ORESS 1, was held in May 2023. Over 3,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity was awarded to 4 offshore wind projects.
5 offshore wind projects are currently in development off our east coast. The 5 projects submitted their applications for planning consent to An Bord Pleanála between mid-2024 and early-2025. These applications are with An Comisiúin Pleanála and a number of requests for further information have been issued to the applicants. Subject to planning consent, I would anticipate that projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational by the early 2030s.
Separately, the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) was approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024. This is Ireland's first spatial plan for offshore renewable energy, designating 4 sites off the south coast for future development. On 26 November, I was delighted to announce the provisional results of my Department's Tonn Nua offshore wind auction, which is the first site from the SC-DMAP to go to auction. The result of the highly competitive auction with a price of €98.719 per megawatt hour secured from the winning bidder Helvick Head Offshore Wind DAC.
I am also making arrangements to bring the remaining 3 offshore wind South Coast DMAP sites to market, ensuring a consistent pipeline of offshore developments will take place over the coming years. A further pipeline of development sites within the National DMAP will follow from 2028 onwards.
