The Irish government has restated its target of supporting deployment of 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 in a new Climate Action Plan.
The strategy commits the country to holding offshore auctions, developing the necessary grid and introducing a planning system to help developers build projects, repeating the commitments of the original 2019 plan.
The strategy, which updated the previous action plan’s call for 3.5GW of offshore wind, cements the 5GW goal set out in the current government’s coalition agreement of 2020.
Dublin has also nailed down an 80% renewable electricity target, up from 70%.
The only capacity increase it has suggested to meet this is for solar. Officials now want that sector to supply up to 2.5GW by end-decade, instead of 1.5GW.
Onshore wind’s goal of around 8GW, up from 4GW-plus online today, has not changed.
There is also a commitment for increased energy storage deployment.
The updated Climate Action Plan meanwhile calls for a “more rapid build-out” of renewables.
However, the document does not outline how this will be achieved.
“The decarbonisation pathway for the electricity sector is challenging given the rapid growth in demand for power, as well as the need to ensure security of supply through the decarbonisation journey,” added the plan.
Energy Minister Eamon Ryan said: “As the world gathers in Glasgow to tackle global warming, Ireland is taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
“By delivering on this plan, we will secure the future for our children and theirs. It’s our chance to make the right choice and create a new Ireland where we cut our dependence on fossil fuels, and develop our own renewable resources including offshore wind.”