The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan, has welcomed long term plans for offshore wind auctions in Ireland and the North Seas.

The plans published by the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) puts forward "indicative auction timelines" for offshore wind auctions across all nine NSEC member states up to 2030, which includes their potential construction window up to 2040.

The database also includes Ireland's indicative plans to meet its 2040 target of 20GW of offshore wind through competitive processes in the period up to 2030, with related construction taking place up to 2040.

In September 2022, at the NSEC Ministerial Meeting, nine NSEC countries agreed to reach at least 260GW of offshore wind energy by 2050. The target represented more than 85 per cent of the EU-wide ambition of reaching 300GW by 2050. In order to achieve the 2050 NESC ambitions there is intermediate targets of at least 76 GW by 2030 and 193 GW by 2040, of which Ireland will contribute 5GW and 20GW respectively.

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To accompany the publication of the NSEC auction timetable, the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, co-ordinated by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, has published an 'indicative roadmap' outlining a timetable towards Ireland's next offshore wind energy auction. The steps include the publication of a draft 'Designated Maritime Area Plan' (DMAP), within the marine waters off the south coast. The plans will determine the appropriate location for the auction site off the south coast. The publication of DMAP will come after feedback from communities and key stakeholders from the region.

Minister Ryan said: "Ireland and the NSEC understand the extraordinary level of capital investment required to deliver offshore wind, and the need for clear visibility of the pipeline to enable this investment in projects themselves and the deployment of ports and supply chains that they depend on. Despite recent challenges to the sector internationally, offshore remains economically, strategically and sustainably sound and publication of our collective plans today provides a clear signal of confidence that Ireland and Europe remain unwavering in our long-term commitment to the sector.

"The success of Ireland’s first offshore wind auction earlier this year highlighted Ireland’s enormous potential in offshore wind. ORESS 2.1 will be another important milestone towards the delivery of our offshore wind ambitions and to reach our climate targets. Our ambitions in the area will be further supported by the publication next year of the Ireland’s Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and the Future Framework for post-2030 Offshore Wind, by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications."