Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has said Ireland’s plan to develop 7GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 will be the country’s most ambitious infrastructure project “in many decades”.
The Minister said the plan also has the potential to completely rebalance Ireland’s economy, shifting importance from Dublin and to the west of the country.
Speaking at Wind Energy Ireland’s 2023 trade show, Coveney acknowledged Ireland has been a difficult location in which to develop infrastructure in the past.
However, he said this is being changed, and urged renewable firms to consider developing in Ireland.
“Over the last three decades Ireland has built one of the most successful [onshore] wind industries in the world. It’s worth €410m to the economy every year and growing.
“[Now] it is critical we harness the vast potential offshore.”
In 2022, the Irish government increased the 2030 offshore wind target from 5GW to 7GW.
Coveney said, once delivered, the scale of these developments could transform many areas across the country.
Addressing wind industry representatives, he added: “Those of us in government are committed to work with you into the long term to make sure a project which has a level of ambition the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades becomes a reality.
“I’m very aware developing infrastructure offshore hasn’t been easy [in Ireland] over the last 20 years.
“[But] we’ve changed the laws in these areas to make it more business friendly. We’re trying to give certainty.
“We will double down on ensuring the environment in Ireland is consistent with the extraordinary level of ambition on and offshore.
“Offshore is going to grow an entirely new opportunity that can rebalance Ireland economically. Areas like the Shannon estuary, Cork harbour, Wexford have an opportunity.
“It gives us an opportunity to rebalance Ireland economically away from Dublin towards the wind resource off our west coast, and capatalise on our potential in the west and south.”