Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, has officially launched the Offshore Wind Energy Programme Annual Report, detailing Ireland's rapid advancement toward becoming a global leader in renewable energy.

The report, produced by the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce, outlines achievements across nine cross-government workstreams in 2025 and sets the agenda for 2026. Minister O'Brien noted that recent global volatility in fossil fuel prices has reinforced the urgency of developing Ireland's abundant offshore wind resources to ensure energy security.

The report identifies several critical breakthroughs in Ireland's journey toward its offshore renewable energy (ORE) targets:

• Phase One Planning: Planning applications for all five "Phase One" projects off the East Coast have been lodged with An Coimisúin Pleanála. With a collective capacity of 3.8GW, these projects represent over 60% of Ireland's current peak electricity demand.

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• Infrastructure Investment: The Commission for Regulation of Utilities' Price Review 6 has cleared the way for a historic investment of up to €18.9 billion in energy infrastructure between 2026 and 2030.

• Auction Success: The "Tonn Nua" auction on the South Coast was successfully completed, marking the first of four sites within the South Coast Designated Marine Area Plan (SC-DMAP) to be auctioned to developers.

• Port Redevelopment: Progress at the Port of Cork remains on track, with the facility expected to be ORE-ready by 2026.

• Industrial & Skills Strategy: The national industrial strategy, 'Powering Prosperity,' saw the launch of Propel Ireland (an Offshore Wind Centre of Excellence), alongside a new offshore wind skills hub and dedicated ORE training courses.

The Offshore Wind Energy Programme coordinates efforts across 16 state departments and agencies. Minister O'Brien emphasised that the state's stable policy environment has maintained high levels of international investment interest, even as other global markets face challenges.

Minister O'Brien stated: "The scale of our move away from fossil fuels is such that we need ongoing engagement and collaboration... Looking ahead, we are focused on removing the remaining bottlenecks in planning, grid, and delivery."

Minister of State with responsibility for the Marine, Timmy Dooley, added: "This report is evidence to what can be accomplished when agencies work together to deliver on an agreed, strategically aligned plan. The work of the Taskforce is of utmost importance in meeting our 5GW near-term objective."

Looking forward to 2027, the government intends to publish a National Designated Marine Area Plan (DMAP), which will provide a long-term pipeline for offshore projects across Ireland's entire maritime territory.