Ireland’s Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, this week announced plans to create a National Industrial Strategy for Offshore Wind aimed at maximising the economic opportunities related to offshore wind production in the country.
To be developed in consultation with relevant government departments, agencies and industry, the strategy is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024.
The news comes as the results of Ireland’s first offshore wind auction are expected to be announced today.
Under its Offshore Energy Programme, Ireland seeks to deliver 5 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and have another 2 GW of floating offshore wind in development. Its total offshore wind target for 2050 calls for at least 37 GW of capacity.
The scope of the strategy will include measures to develop supply chain opportunities and, at the same time, mitigate the risk to targets from supply chain constraints, measures to develop both local and export demand for offshore wind energy, as well as a framework for the development of clusters of economic activity in key locations for the offshore wind sector.
