Written answer
Wind Energy Generation
Planning delays affect five Phase 1 projects, but decisions are expected by 2027, construction thereafter, and 1 GW auction is planned for 2027.
34. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions being taken to address delays in the development of offshore wind energy projects; the reasons a number of projects remain behind schedule; the impact these delays will have on the achievement of Ireland's offshore renewable energy targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65767/26]
Comment on this
52. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will report on progress to deliver offshore wind; the earliest date a project will commence construction; the projects and work he anticipates will have been delivered by 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65905/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 52 together.
Five Phase 1 offshore wind projects are in development off our east coast, with a planned capacity of 3.8 gigawatts (GW). All are advanced in the planning system with An Coimisiún Pleanála. While planning decisions are taking longer than the projects may have originally anticipated, I understand it was necessary for An Coimisiún Pleanála to make significant requests for further information (RFIs) to the projects and the responses from the projects took some time. Despite this, An Coimisiún Pleanála is expected to make two determinations before the end of this year and three others to follow in the first half of 2027. I understand that later decision dates reflect later initial application dates and later responses to the RFIs. Subject to planning consent, I anticipate that projects will be in construction over the next few years and operational in the early 2030s.
The Phase 2 Tonn Nua project off the coast of Waterford is progressing well since approval in 2025 and will add a further 900 megawatts of capacity, making a total 4.7 GW of planned capacity in development. Tonn Nua was the first of four sites to be brought to auction from the South Coast DMAP.
Building on the 4.7 gigawatts of projects already in development, I am planning for Ireland’s next offshore wind auction in 2027 of the 1 GW Lí Ban site, located off the coast of Waterford in the South Coast DMAP. Site surveys are already underway to inform auction participants and work on planning a connection to the onshore grid is nearing completion.