Ireland is primed to become a leading player in Europe\u2019s clean energy future following Government approval this week of a revised National Planning Framework (NPF), according to Minister for State Timmy Dooley. <\/p>\n
Speaking on Thursday at a ministerial plenary session at a WindEurope event in Copenhagen, he said the revised NPF would facilitate accelerated roll-out of renewables infrastructure. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt will create a stronger support for renewables at a regional and local level, providing clarity and consistency across the planning system,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
This would also ensure Ireland remained an attractive country for renewable energy projects, he said. <\/p>\n
It also acknowledged the clear connection between climate action and potential for investment generation and employment and jobs, while linking in offshore wind industry and green technology, added the Minister of State for Climate and Energy with special responsible for Marine. <\/p>\n
\u201cIreland is already a wind energy success story. Irish wind farms provided 48 per cent of Ireland\u2019s power last February, and last January 2025, a significant milestone was reached \u2013 when the State reached over 5 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind capacity \u2013 over halfway to the State\u2019s 2030 onshore climate action targets for renewable wind energy,\u201d he told business leaders. <\/p>\n
NPF changes \u2013 still subject to approval by Houses of the Oireachtas \u2013 would also ensure \u201ca sufficient pipeline of onshore wind projects to underpin Ireland\u2019s commitment of 9GW of onshore wind by 2030\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIreland has enormous offshore wind potential \u2013 not only to deliver cheaper, cleaner and more secure energy to our homes and businesses \u2013 it has the potential to deliver tens of thousands of new green jobs for many communities across the State,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
The Government was accelerating policy in the offshore wind, Mr Dooley said, with an all-of-Government approach applied through an offshore wind delivery taskforce. <\/p>\n
\u201cIreland has achieved a number of important milestones in offshore wind, including: Ireland\u2019s first offshore wind auction, which procured over 3GW of capacity from four offshore wind projects; the publication of the State\u2019s first marine spatial plan for offshore wind development \u2013 the south coast designated maritime area plan [DMAP]; and the approved terms and conditions of Ireland\u2019s second offshore wind auction, which will take place later this year.\u201d <\/p>\n
At the event being attended by more than 15,000 delegates, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment issued a progress report on Ireland\u2019s offshore wind industrial strategy, which shows that of 40 actions, 11 were completed, 19 were in progress and five were delayed. <\/p>\n
Significantly, however, Government commitments to deploy floating offshore technology were delayed \u2013 including a DMAP for the West coast, and putting in place a floating offshore wind \u201cdemonstrator site\u201d planned for later this year.<\/p>\n