Written answer
Energy Policy
The Government prioritises energy security through renewables, storage and fixed-bottom offshore wind, while floating wind remains less commercially advanced and gas imports continue.
9. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to urgently address Ireland's isolation in the context of oil and gas and all aspects of energy demands and expedite the provision of offshore floating windfarms, to secure Ireland’s long-term energy security and eliminate our structural vulnerability to volatile global fossil fuel markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65723/26]
Comment on this
The Government is committed to taking all necessary action to protect Ireland’s energy security and recognises the crucial role of renewable energy development in enhancing our long-term energy security.
Ireland’s energy system is changing at pace with about 50% of generation from renewable sources in 2025, compared to less than 30% in 2015. We currently have 8.5 gigawatts of renewable generation capacity connected to the network, having added over 5 gigawatts in just ten years.
Ireland has also made significant progress in the deployment of electricity storage capacity in recent years. More than 1.3 gigawatts of storage has been energised across the all-island power system. Over 1 gigawatt of this capacity has been installed since 2018.
Ireland will continue to invest in competitively priced onshore wind and solar generation, as well as electricity storage, and is also investing in offshore wind generation.
The focus of Ireland’s offshore wind development to date has been on fixed-bottom turbines, as this technology is more commercially advanced and competitively priced than floating wind. Substantial progress has been made by the Department and others in advancing the Phase 1 projects and the South Coast DMAP. The forthcoming National DMAP will designate sufficient maritime area to deliver enough offshore renewable energy to support our energy security needs in the longer term.
Ireland imports around 80% of its natural gas from the UK, with the remainder being produced indigenously from the Corrib field. The UK has a diverse supply of natural gas and is not dependent on gas from the Middle East. Gas supply to Ireland continues to flow normally, although the situation in the Persian Gulf has placed upward pressure on gas prices.