Wind energy industry welcomes Indicative Roadmap for ORESS 2

Wind Energy Ireland welcomes the Government’s publication of an ‘indicative roadmap’ for Ireland’s next offshore wind energy auction, ORESS 2.1.

ORESS 2.1 will take place off Ireland’s south coast, and will procure up to 900 MW of offshore wind, to aid in the delivery of Ireland’s renewable energy targets under the 2023 Climate Action Plan.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “This roadmap is a positive signal for the continued development of Ireland’s offshore wind industry. It will provide project developers and the offshore wind supply chain with greater certainty on the steps and timelines to deliver the next auction process.

“We now need Government to ensure that the south coast DMAP can be published as quickly as possible and that resources are in place across critical state agencies to deliver the auction as early as possible in 2024.”

North Seas Energy Cooperation

The publication of the roadmap coincides with the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC)’s publication of long-range plans by its members.

The NSEC plan includes Ireland’s indicative plans to meet its 2040 target of 20GW of offshore wind through competitive processes in the period up to 2030, with related construction taking place up to 2040.

Noel Cunniffe continued: “The NSEC long-term plan gives clarity to the offshore wind industry on Ireland’s goal for the next seven years. It is clear that offshore wind energy produced around our coasts will have a key role to play in not just delivering an energy independent Ireland, but an energy independent Europe. We look forward to working with Government to realise this vision and deliver 20GW of offshore wind for Ireland by 2040.”

The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) is made up of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the European Commission. NSEC supports and facilitates the development of the offshore grid and the delivery of the large renewable energy potential in the North Seas region.