Major milestones reached as State continues to plan for its long-term offshore renewable energy future
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 27 Bealtaine 2025
The Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Darragh O’Brien, today announced the publication of the Future Framework 2025 Review, which highlights significant milestones in Ireland’s journey towards becoming a global leader in offshore renewable energy (ORE).
Ireland has ambitious targets. The availability of abundant, reliable green energy will drive clean, sustainable growth in energy-intensive sectors, together with numerous opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
The Department of Environment, Climate and Communications launched the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy in May 2024. The framework is the long-term model and vision for ORE in Ireland. It sets out a roadmap for reaching our long-term ambitious targets and includes a set of 29 medium-term actions to kickstart our long-term offshore energy policy. The review also includes an updated action plan for the coming year – which will reaffirm the government’s commitment to its ORE ambitions.
One significant action to have been completed is the National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for offshore renewable energy, which was approved by Government earlier this month. The National ORE DMAP forms part of a Programme for Government commitment to ‘Fast-Track Offshore Wind Development’ and the plan will designate sites around Ireland’s entire sea area to meet Ireland’s target of 20 GW of offshore renewable energy by 2040.
Offshore Wind Technical Resource Assessment also published by Department
Another landmark achievement within the Future Framework Review is the publication of the Offshore Wind Technical Resource Assessment, also announced today by Minister O’Brien. This assessment provides a detailed analysis and recommendations for the development of commercial fixed and floating offshore wind around Ireland’s coast. It’s an important initial step and provides an evidence base for future designation of ORE sites around Ireland coastline.
The assessment concludes that there could be an additional 3.5-18GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind that could be reasonably developed around the coast, which is additional to the 8GW of offshore wind already planned in Ireland between the Phase One projects and the South Coast DMAP. The analysis also explores the evidence base for the development of at-scale floating offshore wind in Irish waters and a floating offshore wind demonstrator site respectively.
In keeping with international market projection, the assessment shows that at present, fixed-bottom wind is less expensive than floating wind at all locations where it can be technically developed. Thus, for affordability reasons, it concludes that the development of fixed offshore wind should be prioritised over floating offshore wind in the near term, while anticipating floating technology to commercialise.
Commenting on the Future Framework 2025 Review, Minister O’Brien said:
"One year on from the launch or the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy, this annual review shows that significant progress has been made over the last year as we plan Ireland’s long-term offshore wind future. Renewable energy projects are poised to revolutionise our economy, offering significant regional and national economic benefits while giving us more control over our energy sovereignty.
"The Future Framework is delivering and evidenced-based approach and this is key to realising our energy potential. Much of the technology needed to harness our Atlantic’s enormous potential is still being developed globally. This long-term model will ensure that we are ready for all potential future offshore renewable energy sources, including fixed and floating wind, wave and tidal renewable energy.
"An all-of-government approach is being taken to deliver on our offshore wind ambitions. Government will continue to work alongside industry to strive for the successful achievement of all actions and commitments under the Future Framework and to deliver a sustainable and prosperous offshore renewable energy industry."
Commenting on the publication of the Technical Resource Assessment, Minister O’Brien said:
"The Offshore Wind Technical Resource Assessment is an important initial step as we look to designate offshore wind sites along our coastline, by providing a high-level assessment of potential areas for project development to inform planning. An in-depth marine spatial planning process will then be completed, as my department starts work on the development of the National Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy, which will designate sites for offshore renewables along our coastline."
The publications can be viewed on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications website.
Notes
State’s 'Phase One' offshore renewable energy projects
To meet our binding climate and energy targets Ireland has committed to achieving 5GW (gigawatts) of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, along with wider offshore ambitions, including a commitment to deliver 20GW of offshore renewable energy by 2040. The 5GW target will be met through the development of offshore projects from a number of ‘Phase One’ projects soon to be in development, and from future offshore projects that will be developed within the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan. The Phase One projects includes four projects successful under the State’s first Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme (ORESS 1) in 2023, and an additional two projects, which were unsuccessful in the ORESS 1 auction, which are both seeking merchant connections through a Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA).
South Cost Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP)
The South Cost Designated Maritime Area Plan (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 County 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 (ORE) ambitions. The Tonn Nua auction site will be the first auction to take place within the South Cost DMAP. The auction bidding process will take place later 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.
National Offshore Renewable Energy Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP)
On 1 May 2025, Government approved a significant plan to accelerate offshore renewable energy development – by approving a national Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for offshore wind. The goal will be to designate sites around Ireland’s entire sea area capable of delivering at least 15GW of offshore wind by 2040, enabling Ireland to meet its 20GW offshore targets. The plan is part of a Programme for Government commitment to ‘Fast-Track Offshore Wind Development’. This will significantly accelerate offshore wind development and will be one of the largest projects of our generation. Then state will aim to adopt this national DMAP by the end of 2027.
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
Achieving Ireland’s ORE ambitions set out in Phase One, Phase Two, and the Future Framework requires extensive collaboration across government departments and agencies. A cross-Departmental Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce was established to accelerate and drive delivery and capture the wider and longer term economic and business opportunities associated with the development of offshore renewables in Ireland.
One of the key objectives of the Taskforce was to develop a system wide project plan, collating all activities underway across departments and agencies to ensure delivery of offshore wind and related targets. Taskforce members meet regularly to discuss progress and to identify all aspects of work on the critical path, gaps, areas of duplication, opportunities and risks.
Details on the taskforce including membership, objectives, the terms of reference and meeting minutes can be viewed on the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications website.