Martin: Offshore Wind Key to Ireland’s Energy Future

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien yesterday brought together key players from Ireland’s offshore wind sector for the first Government Industry Forum on Offshore Renewable Energy.

Held at Government Buildings in Dublin, the forum was attended by ministers, state agencies, regulators, and industry representatives. It provided an opportunity to review progress, identify barriers, and strengthen cooperation between the public and private sectors in delivering large-scale offshore wind projects.

“Ireland’s vast maritime area gives us huge potential to become a leader in offshore renewable energy,” the Taoiseach said. “Our shared goal is to replace fossil fuels with clean, indigenous energy – creating jobs, improving energy security, and building a more sustainable future.”

He acknowledged progress made to date but warned that the scale of ambition requires faster delivery and deeper collaboration. “Many challenges remain. We must work together to ensure this industry reaches its full potential,” he said.

Minister O’Brien described the development of offshore wind as a “top priority” for government, pointing to the work of the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and the upcoming Tonn Nua auction, which aims to procure 900MW of capacity later this year.

“We’re making strong progress,” the Minister said. “We’ve launched a major grid funding package and have five phase one projects currently in the planning system. The first of these could be under construction by 2030.”

Minister of State Timmy Dooley highlighted Ireland’s strong track record in onshore wind, now generating over a third of the country’s electricity, and said offshore energy must become the next chapter of that success.

“Ireland has the natural resources and the technical know-how. Through continued engagement like today’s forum, we can build a secure, low-carbon energy future,” he said.

The Government has set a target of delivering 20GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040. Ministers say ongoing engagement with the sector will be critical to achieving that goal, along with investment in ports, planning systems, and grid infrastructure.