Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy

Ireland has the potential to be a world leader in offshore renewable energy (ORE). The abundance of our significant natural resources means that with the right ambition, focus and collaborative approach, we can have our own secure supply of clean, renewable and affordable energy. At the same time developing indigenous green growth and taking full advantage of the emerging export market opportunities. This will also enable Europe to meet our goal of making the EU climate-neutral by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

This potential can only be achieved with national ambition and with a strategic long-term approach. The Future Framework Policy Statement for Offshore Renewable Energy addresses both of those things. It outlines our long-term ambitions of 20GW by 2040 and 37GW by 2050, and our objectives, and it lays down a roadmap of how they will be achieved.

The Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy includes 29 key actions to develop Ireland’s long-term, plan-led approach to offshore wind. It is built on an analysis of economic opportunities to encourage investment and maximise the financial and economic return of offshore renewable energy to the State and local communities. It also explores the potential to export excess renewable energy through increased interconnection, and analyses opportunities for using excess renewable energy for alternative energy products and services that can be fed into international markets.

The guiding principles of the policy include the protection of maritime environment and biodiversity, affordability of energy for consumers, an equitable return to communities, alignment of policy and infrastructure, inspiring confidence for investment, emphasising technological innovation, illuminating opportunities for return to the state and prioritising stakeholder and public engagement.

The Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy is one of the key actions published today under the Offshore Wind Energy Programme, the system-wide plan developed by the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce.

The Future Framework policy statement is informed by economic analysis including a recent set of reports commissioned by DECC and provided by AFRY Managing Consultants and BVG Associates. The commissioned economic market analysis was conducted to assess the viability of ORE targets and potential export opportunities. External consultants AFRY and BVG Associates produced five reports focused on the following workstreams:

• WS1 – Market Analysis: create relevant power market scenarios with varying ORE capacity and interconnection targets for elaboration in subsequent workstreams
• WS2 – Interconnection: assess the technical and financial viability of electricity export via interconnection predominantly to France, the UK, and other northern European countries
• WS3 – Renewable hydrogen: analyse the potential hydrogen future in Ireland including maximising cost-competitiveness
• WS4 – Export viability: evaluate the export viability and implications in terms of Gross Value Added and employment benefits as well as policy, trade, and investment considerations
• WS5 – Societal return: provide commentary on the financial and economic return to the State and local communities including recommended regulatory mechanisms

To accompany the publication of the Future Framework Policy Statement public consultation, a screening report for SEA and Appropriate Assessment (AA) is being conducted by Mace Consultancy Ltd. The screening of this policy statement is ongoing throughout the duration of the public consultation process.