Government progresses renewable energy agenda with publication of National Designated Maritime Area Plan Proposal
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 18 Meán Fómhair 2025
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, and the Minister of State at the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley, today announced the publication of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Proposal and accompanying Public Participation Statement (PPS).
The National DMAP for Offshore Renewable Energy will be a strategic plan that outlines the development and management of offshore renewable energy resources off Ireland's coast. It will provide a clear and sustainable framework for developing offshore renewable energy, balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and community engagement to support Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Ultimately, the National DMAP for ORE will designate renewable energy sites around Ireland’s coast that are suitable for offshore wind development, including fixed, floating, and floating demonstration locations. The plan is part of a Programme for Government commitment to accelerate offshore wind development, and will assist in realising the government's objective of securing 20GW (gigawatts) of offshore wind by 2040. It builds on the South Coast DMAP for ORE, approved by the Oireachtas in October 2024. The first of four sites within the South Coast DMAP — 'Tonn Nua' — will go to auction in November to procure 900MW of capacity.
The proposed National DMAP and Public Participation Statement accelerate Ireland's offshore renewable energy ambition via a plan-led framework guiding Ireland’s offshore renewable energy development. The documents set out information on the scope of the overall plan, timeframes and the required steps in the development of the DMAP over the next two years, as well as the government's commitment to extensive and inclusive consultation with the public and stakeholders throughout the entire process.
Commenting on the publication, Minister O'Brien said:
"The National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy supports our decarbonisation efforts and our offshore renewables ambition of 20GW by 2040. Having a single National DMAP for ORE in place to follow on from the Phase One projects and the South Coast DMAP for ORE published last year will provide greater certainty for our marine stakeholders and the renewables industry.
"This Proposal, along with the Public Participation Statement, sets out what we will do, and how we will ensure your voice is heard. The PPS will provide information for environmental and fisheries sectors as to how they, and indeed all stakeholders, can take part in the process. We therefore strongly encourage all interested parties to engage in the future public participation and consultation opportunities over the development of this plan."
Minister Dooley said:
"For Ireland, human-generated climate change presents a significant and expensive challenge to which our communities must adapt. In addition, the continuing unpredictability of geopolitical events has made our dependency on fossil fuels unreliable and unaffordable. These combined pressures reinforce the need for Ireland to accelerate its transition to indigenous and transformative renewable energy sources.
"To further address this challenge, Government has committed to the preparation of a National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy. The DMAP process will ensure that developments in Ireland's maritime area take place in a managed and sustainable way."
Extensive public and stakeholder consultation on the National DMAP Proposal will take place over the course of 2026 and 2027. It is anticipated that the National DMAP will be completed in 2027 and laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas for approval.
The National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy Proposal and the Public Participation Statement for the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy are available at: gov.ie/NationalOREDMAP.
Notes
State's 'Phase One' offshore renewable energy projects
Ireland has committed to an initial target of achieving 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity. 5 ‘Phase One’ offshore wind projects are presently in development off Ireland’s east coast. These projects account for approximately 3,700 megawatts of generating capacity, more than 60% of our present peak electricity demand. Applications for planning consent for all five projects are with An Coimisiún Pleanála. Subject to planning consent, it is expected that these projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational by the early 2030s. The 5GW target will be met through the development of these Phase One projects, and from future offshore projects that will be developed within the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan.
South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP)
The South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) was approved by the Oireachtas on 10 October 2024 and is the State's first spatial plan for ORE development. It followed a comprehensive environmental assessment process – and an almost year-long engagement process with coastal communities and key stakeholders, including fishers, environmental NGOs and local authorities in Counties Wexford, Waterford and Cork. It identifies four sites off the south coast in which future ORE development will take place.
Ireland's second offshore wind auction
On 31 October 2024, the government approved the terms and conditions of Ireland’s second offshore wind auction – 'Tonn Nua' – marking another important milestone in the State’s offshore renewable energy ambitions. The Tonn Nua auction site will be the first auction to take place within the South Coast DMAP. The auction bidding process is scheduled to take place in November 2025 and the project will procure 900MW of clean energy, making a sizable contribution to Ireland's wider climate and renewable electricity targets. It will also save 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year after its construction. Work is also underway to bring the remaining three offshore wind South Coast DMAP sites to market, ensuring a consistent pipeline of offshore developments will take place over the coming years.
The Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy
The Future Framework Policy Statement for Offshore Renewable Energy outlines Ireland's long-term targets and lays down a roadmap of how they will be achieved.
The framework includes 29 key actions to develop Ireland's long-term, plan-led approach to offshore wind. It is built on an analysis of economic opportunities to encourage investment and maximise the financial and economic return of ORE to the State and local communities. It also explores the potential to export excess renewable energy through increased interconnection, and analyses opportunities for using excess renewable energy for alternative energy products and services that can be fed into international markets. The guiding principles of the policy include the protection of maritime environment and biodiversity, affordability of energy for consumers, an equitable return to communities, alignment of policy and infrastructure, inspiring confidence for investment, emphasising technological innovation, illuminating opportunities for return to the state and prioritising stakeholder and public engagement.
Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce
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 annual reports, membership, objectives, the terms of reference and meeting minutes can be found on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment's website.