The government of Ireland has announced a roadmap which would enable the country to deliver 37GW of offshore wind by 2050.
The so-called Future Framework sets out the pathway Ireland will take to deliver 20GW of offshore wind by 2040 and at least 37GW by 2050. It also provides the basis for Ireland’s ambitious offshore renewable energy targets.
The policy is published under the Offshore Wind Energy Programme, a system-wide plan developed by the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce. It also includes 29 key actions to develop Ireland’s long-term, plan-led approach to offshore wind.
In tandem with the framework, the taskforce will announce the draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) and create a follow-up programme to the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme
The Future Framework 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.
“Our offshore wind energy is potentially the largest domestic source of electricity that can replace volatile, imported fossil fuels. It also gives us our most exciting industrial opportunity for decades as we plan to not only power our own country but export our excess energy to power Europe,” said Ireland’s minister for the environment, climate and communications Eamon Ryan.
