Minister O'Brien publishes reports outlining major advancement in delivery of onshore and offshore renewable energy
- Published on: 8 August 2025
- Last updated on: 8 August 2025
Taskforce reports show key progress made in positioning Ireland as a world leader in both onshore and offshore renewable energy
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, has announced the publication of two annual reports produced by taskforces on accelerating onshore and offshore renewable energy, outlining major progress made in 2024 to deliver Ireland’s clean energy transition.
Ireland has already made significant progress in rolling out onshore wind energy and we have successfully positioned ourselves as a world leader in onshore wind generation, with wind now accounting for over 35% of electricity generation annually. Last January, a significant milestone was reached, when the State reached over 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind capacity, which is a significant step towards achieving Ireland's target of 80% of electricity demand to be met by renewables. Solar is the fastest growing renewable electricity source in the country with over 1.6GW of solar PV installed; it is rapidly transforming Ireland’s energy system. Solar is highly complementary to wind generation, providing a more stable and balanced energy supply over time. The State has ambitious offshore renewable energy (ORE) targets, including the delivery of 20GW of ORE by 2040, and has been accelerating policy in the ORE space at a significant scale.
Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce
The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) annual report presents key achievements, highlights, and challenges faced in 2024 and presents actions to be delivered in 2025 for Ireland’s journey towards becoming a global leader in offshore energy. A key milestone development set out in the report is the Oireachtas decision to approve the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP), and its subsequent publication. It brought Ireland into a fully plan-led system for the delivery of ORE. The report also outlines progress on the 5 Phase One offshore wind projects off the east coast, which all submitted planning applications in 2024. They have the capacity to deliver the bulk of Ireland's 5GW offshore wind energy target. The report also describes progress made by ports to prepare for the construction and operation of offshore windfarms, particularly the Port of Cork which secured new funding and began redevelopment to accommodate the ORE sector.
Key among the OWDT actions for 2025 is managing the bidding process and provisional results of the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS) auction within the SC-DMAP. The first of 4 sites – 'Tonn Nua' – will go to developer auction in November and procure 900MW of clean, affordable energy while driving billions of euros of investment into the south coast region and generating €7 million every year in Community Benefit Fund payments.
Accelerating Renewable Electricity (ARE) Taskforce
The Accelerating Renewable Electricity (ARE) Taskforce plays a pivotal role in enabling Ireland to meet its legally-binding climate targets and achieve 80% of electricity demand from renewable generation, by identifying, coordinating, and prioritising the policies required to fast-track and increase deployment of onshore renewable electricity generation capacity and related infrastructure. Its regular meetings with industry allow for engagement – to deliver on objectives and timelines, and address barriers affecting achievement of renewable electricity targets.
Key achievements
Key achievements their report outlines include the successful delivery of the fourth Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) onshore wind auction, the launch of the Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) Phase 2, the inclusion of Regional Renewable Electricity Capacity Allocations in the National Planning Framework, the publication of the Electricity Storage Policy Framework, and the commencement of priority grid reinforcement projects.
Highlighting the achievements in ORE development and the work that is underway, Minister O'Brien said:
"Though there is more work needed to meet Ireland’s offshore wind ambitions, the achievements set out in the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce's report are testament to what can be accomplished when agencies work together to deliver on an agreed, strategically aligned plan. The scale of the energy transition challenge is such that we will need ongoing engagement and collaboration between government, industry and citizens and civil society as we look to realise our renewable energy ambitions."
Underlining the significant progress made under the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce, Minister O'Brien said:
"The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce has played a crucial role in breaking down barriers to renewable energy deployment. This report reflects a year of coordinated action and momentum. Looking ahead to 2025/26, we are focused on removing the remaining bottlenecks in planning, grid, and delivery. We need all sectors – public, private and community – to work together to meet our energy and climate goals. Accelerating our renewable electricity generation not only reduces our direct emissions from electricity generation, but also acts as an enabler for decarbonising other sectors, including transport, heat and industry."
The Offshore Wind Energy Programme report is available on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment website.
The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce report is available on the department's website.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT) actions for 2025 include
- Holding Ireland's second ever ORE auction – ORESS Tonn Nua
- Publishing of the Marine Planning Policy Statement, the Offshore Wind Energy Marine Planning Guidelines, and Resource Assessment
- Enacting Marine Protected Areas legislation
- Publishing an ORE innovation policy
- Finalising a Draft National ORE DMAP Proposal and publishing a Public Participation Statement
- Working with industry and government stakeholders, to identify new or revised actions to build on Powering Prosperity – Ireland's Offshore Wind Industrial Strategy
- Monitoring the implementation of a Skills Action Plan for Offshore Wind
- Further supporting and promoting the development of short, targeted courses including micro-credentials providing a grounding in offshore wind skills, as a means of assisting experienced career movers to enter the offshore wind industry
Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET) priorities for 2025/2026 include
- Issuing final Wind Energy Development Guidelines / National Planning Statement including supporting policies for repowering and extension of life
- Implementing the relevant sections of the Planning and Development Act, 2024
- Monitoring delivery of 2025 grid projects and analysis of reasons for delays and accelerating grid delivery through innovative actions such as facilitating sites
- Delivery of RESS 5 Auction and Revised State Aid Process being progressed to allow for RESS 6 in 2026
About the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce (OWDT)
The Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was established to deliver a system-wide plan across government to accelerate and drive delivery of Ireland's offshore wind targets and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables. Chaired by Minister O'Brien, the Taskforce brings together 16 Departments and Agencies across Government under the one delivery programme, along with Industry involvement.
Details on the taskforce including membership, objectives, the terms of reference and meeting minutes can be viewed on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment website.
About the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARET)
The Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce was established in 2023 to coordinate the fast-tracked and increased deployment of onshore renewable electricity generation and supporting technologies. The role of the taskforce is to deliver a cohesive approach to policymaking to deliver the increased levels of onshore renewable electricity generation capacity and related infrastructure required to ensure the achievement of 80% of electricity demand being met from renewable resources. The taskforce is chaired by the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment, and its membership comprises of senior officials from those government departments and State bodies considered vital to the delivery of Ireland's onshore renewable electricity targets.
Details on the taskforce, include membership, objectives, the terms of reference, and meeting minutes can be viewed on the Department of Climate, Energy, and the Environment website.