Ireland’s Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has made geophysical datasets available for the country’s planned second offshore wind auction.
The government announced recent approval of the agreed terms for Ireland’s second offshore wind auction, ORESS Tonn Nua.
The datasets will support prospective participants in their analysis to better inform and de-risk bid preparations.
Tonn Nua will procure 900MW of clean energy from a site off coast of County Waterford, with auction bidding process expected to take place early next year.
The announcement comes as momentum continues to grow in the offshore renewables energy (ORE) sector with thousands of delegates gathering in Dublin for the two-day Wind Energy Trade Show, which opened on 6 November.
The Tonn Nua auction terms and conditions were agreed on 30 October 2024 as the government continues to accelerate policy in the ORE space.
The data release also follows the recent Oireachtas approval of the State’s first spatial plan for ORE development – the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC DMAP).
Tonn Nua will be the first ORE auction to be held within a DMAP.
Along with the Tonn Nua auction site, the SC DMAP identifies four maritime areas off the south coast in which ORE development will take place over the next decade.
All four maritime areas are located off the Cork, Waterford and Wexford coast.
This approach offers further certainty to offshore renewables developers by ensuring that future offshore wind farm developments will be led by maritime spatial plans identified by government and approved by the Oireachtas.
It also protects the marine environment and supports citizens reliant on the sea.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said: “The recent announcements on our next offshore wind auction, including the release of this geophysical data, is a strong signal that government is determined to deliver our very ambitious offshore renewable energy targets.”
“Ireland has enormous offshore wind potential, and along with delivering cleaner and more secure energy to our homes and businesses, renewable energy projects are poised to revolutionise our economy, offering significant regional and national economic benefits.
“Our first offshore auction in 2023 overperformed all expectations and I have every confidence that we will continue to build of its success.”