The Irish government has selected seven offshore wind projects that will be fast-tracked through planning in order to hit a 3.5GW target for the sector by 2030.
Dublin has picked Innogy’s Bray and Kish Banks, the Parkwind-developed Oriel, the Codling Bank 1&2 complex owned by Fred Olsen Renewables and EDF as well as Statkraft’s NISA, all in the Irish Sea.
Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta’s Skerd Rocks project off the west coast has also been chosen.
The “relevant projects” designation means that the wind farms, which were at various stages of the planning process, can apply via a new consenting regime being introduced by the government.
Energy Minister Richard Bruton said: “This now sets out a clear development path for these offshore wind projects which will play a key role in decarbonising our electricity system.
“This is a clear example of the Government’s determination to deliver on our climate and renewable energy ambitions to deliver 70% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030.”
The Irish Wind Energy Association said the move puts Ireland on a path to hitting this decade’s target.
However, chief executive David Connolly (pictured) called on transmission system operator Eirgrid and national planning authority An Bord Pleanala to start working on the projects to identify grid and permitting solutions.
“Ireland has some of the best offshore wind resources in the world and when completed these projects will deliver enormous cuts in our CO2 emissions,” he said.
“But we cannot afford to lose any more time. Eirgrid and An Bord Pleanala must start working with these projects as soon as possible.”