Ireland must increase its ambition for climate action from its current 5GW target of offshore wind by 2030 to a more ambitious 7GW, according to SSE Renewables.
The call was made by SSE Renewables’ director of offshore wind Maria Ryan at today’s (29 June) Energy Ireland 2022, Ireland’s Decade of Delivery conference, taking place in Croke Park, Dublin.
She also called for Ireland to establish new stepping-stone or interim targets from 2030 to 2050 to encourage long term investment in the industry and achieve 30GW of offshore wind capacity in Irish waters.
Ryan also called on government not to let grid limitations limit Ireland’s offshore wind potential and the achievement of more ambitious targets.
Current government policy is to progress the development of offshore wind through a series of phases.
Phase 1 and 2 are being led by the developer, while Phase 3 will see the State and transmission system operator (TSO) EirGrid determine sites and grid for offshore wind farms.
These phases have been introduced on the basis of the available grid capacity.
Ryan said: “We recognise the merits of delivering offshore wind on a phased basis, building towards a TSO-led approach. However we believe this approach is limiting Ireland’s potential.
“We can’t afford to wait until we have a clear sight of additional grid to adjust our ambition upwards.
“Phase 2 projects should not be used to top up the margin that remains to achieving 5GW after Phase 1 delivers. We cannot allow targets to limit our ambition.
“Ireland must create a long-term pipeline of projects and investment to deliver on our renewable electricity targets and support our energy security and independence.
“This is best secured by establishing stepping-stone targets up to 2050, leading with the delivery of an increased 7GW target by 2030, and then subsequent targets of 10GW by 2035, 15GW by 2040, 22GW by 2045, and 30GW by 2050.”
She also called on the State to resource all agencies involved in offshore wind to manage the workload associated with the expected scale of future development, and to challenge them to play their part in the delivery of increased offshore ambition for Ireland.
These agencies include Government Departments, the new Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), An Bord Pleanála, and EirGrid.
Ryan added: “Just six months on from the Glasgow agreement at COP26, energy security and affordability have come into even sharper focus, strengthening the imperative to urgently reduce fossil fuel dependency and decarbonise energy systems.
“Ireland, like almost all Western countries, needs to urgently end its over-reliance on fossil fuels. That’s why we must urgently enhance our own energy security through the generation of indigenous green renewable energy.
“Offshore wind has the greatest potential of any renewable energy technology to combat climate change, both globally and here in Ireland.
“And at SSE Renewables we are committed to working with Ireland’s State agencies to deliver Ireland’s offshore wind energy ambitions so we can harness the opportunity to transition our energy supply to indigenous and secure renewable energy.”
SSE Renewables is currently progressing a 3GW pipeline of offshore wind energy for development in Irish waters by 2030.
This includes the 800MW Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2, which is being delivered through the government’s first phase of offshore wind which, under current planning timelines, is expected to deliver first power in 2028 and completion in 2029, subject to a final investment decision.
SSE Renewables is also developing 2.2GW of early-stage offshore projects including the 1GW Braymore Wind Park off the coasts of counties Louth, Dublin and Meath, and the 1.2GW Celtic Sea Array off the Waterford Estuary, both of which are targeting delivery before 2030.