March 2024
Price: €95 PLUS VAT
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This conference discussed the future for the offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector in Ireland.
Delegates assessed next steps for maximising growth and potential in the development of offshore wind energy following the recent ORESS 1 Offshore Auction, resulting in contracts with a combined capacity of 3.1 GW for four offshore wind projects.
It was also an opportunity to discuss priorities for the sector, with a focus on potential barriers to growth, looking at the planning system, growing investor confidence, and transitioning to the new maritime consenting regime.
Discussion considered how to maximise the economic potential of offshore wind energy development, including how Ireland can become a net exporter of clean renewable energy, and priorities for developing a National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind to stimulate sector growth.
With publication of the DECC’s Climate Action Plan 2024 in December 2023, and the Irish Government committing to increase the share of renewable electricity up to 80% by 2030, delegates explored how the development of the ORE sector can contribute to the meeting of climate targets.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Conor McCabe, Principal Officer, International and Offshore Energy, Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications; Laura Brien, Chief Executive Officer, MARA; Eoin McPartland, Offshore Manager, Energia; and Kate Tuohy, Director, Energy, Structured Finance Office, EMEA MUFG.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- Policy: next steps for development of ORESS 1 projects - priorities for future offshore wind auctions - assessing what sector growth means for the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 strategy
- Enabling development of ORE: priorities for the planning system - stimulating investor confidence - implementing the new maritime consenting regime
- Infrastructure:
- next steps for funding and finance - what is needed to grow port infrastructure and to adapt to future needs - addressing concerns for energy storage
- reviewing the National Ports Policy - implementing findings laid out in the Irish Ports Capacity Study
- Capitalising on Ireland’s potential: developing an Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind - options for becoming a net energy exporter - contribution to the energy mix - ensuring projects equate to local community development
- Supply chain: developing a robust and sustainable supply chain for offshore projects - addressing rising costs for materials - logistics challenges for equipment transportation and installation
- Skills and training: establishing effective programmes and initiatives - collaboration between industry and educational institutions to plug knowledge gaps and adequately staff projects
- Environmental issues: protecting maritime biodiversity and nature - balancing priorities and ensuring ORE development does not hinder environmental protection strategies - developing a fair and effective consenting process
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from DAERA, NI; DAFM; DECC; Department for the Economy, NI; Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform; DfE, UK; DfI, NI; DoE; DoE, NI; FCDO, UK; the Welsh Government - and pass-holders from both Houses of the Oireachtas.
