Wind Energy Generation

7. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions he is taking to accelerate delivery of offshore wind projects, given continued concerns regarding planning delays, grid connections and infrastructure bottlenecks; and if he will provide a timeline for the first projects becoming operational. [78164/26]

23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on his Department's plans to accelerate offshore wind development to help meet our 2030 climate targets. [77998/26]

I ask about the offshore wind projects. The Minister touched on it briefly in response to the previous question and the concerns about planning. There was a promise of an offshore wind revolution. There was a target of 5 GW, but we have seen grid bottlenecks, infrastructure and planning delays and the prospect of tearing down our only offshore wind farm before any of the new ones become operational. We have been talking about this for years. Will the Minister tell me what the latest developments are?

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 23 together. Five phase 1 offshore wind projects are currently in development with planning capacity of 3.8 GW. These projects are located on the east coast, from County Louth down to County Wexford. All five projects submitted planning applications in 2024 and 2025 to An Coimisiún Pleanála. I understand it was necessary for An Coimisiún Pleanála to make requests for further information in respect of the projects. It has taken some time for the projects to compile this additional information, given the substantial and complex nature of the requests for further information. The first planning determinations from An Coimisiún Pleanála are anticipated in the first half of 2027. Subject to planning approval, it is anticipated that some or all of these projects will be in construction by 2030 and operational in the early 2030s. The anticipated decision dates from An Coimisiún Pleanála reflect the later initial application submission dates, the response times on the requests for information and the requirement for additional public consultation information submitted. The requests for information and project responses will make for some more robust planning determinations. Elements of the renewable energy directive have been transposed, including a mandatory maximum time limit of 65 weeks for planning decisions related to offshore wind projects. This will benefit future planning applications for offshore wind. The five phase 1 projects are responsible for building the offshore transmission assets to connect their individual projects to the grid. These offshore transmission assets will be built simultaneously with the wind farms by the companies concerned. I am advised that extensive negotiations between EirGrid and the five projects on the details of the offshore transmission assets have been ongoing for some time and are nearing a conclusion. Separately, the 900 MW Tonn Nua project off the coast of Waterford is progressing well since Helvec Head DAC was selected as the auction winner in December 2025. I understand the developer envisages a planning determination by 2030 and an energisation by 2033. Tonn Nua is the first of four development zones from the south coast DMAP being brought to auction. Under the development's phase 2 offshore wind policy, EirGrid, as transmission system operator, is responsible for constructing the offshore transmission assets for Tonn Nua and has committed to making a grid connection available by 2033. Preparations are being undertaken to develop the remaining three south coast DMAP development zones over the coming years. The first of those will be the approximately 1 GW Lí Ban zone. The development has been carrying out site-specific engineering surveys and regional level biological surveys. We are also working with EirGrid to develop grid connection options for Lí Ban. There remain two zones in the south coast DMAP area. The offshore transmission assets will then be developed in tandem with construction of the wind farm's concerns. Separately, the Department is advancing the national DMAP for offshore renewable energy. It will be developed and delivered with regard to a strategic long-term plan for ORE development, which will designate sufficient additional renewable development areas around our coast to facilitate long-term targets of 20 GW. A public consultation on the draft plan is expected to commence early in the new year.

I thank the Minister of State. He indicated that the Tonn Nua plan is progressing well and said EirGrid is being consulted and is responsible for having it connected by 2033. I have to tell the Minister of State that there are alarm bells going off in the industry. The ORESS auction for Tonn Nua was held last year. The second site for Lí Ban is coming up next year. Is the Minister of State satisfied that the grid is ready to accept the Tonn Nua and Lí Ban projects and also the Celtic interconnector, which will come ashore at the same place? Is he satisfied that EirGrid will have the necessary grid infrastructure ready to accept these three projects, let alone the other two that will follow? There is concern out there that that might not be the case.

I thank the Deputy for his question. In relation to grid capacity, it is a priority and is being planned alongside the offshore wind developments. The five phase 1 projects have been issued with provisional grid connection offers and discussions are ongoing between EirGrid and project developers. Those discussions are being advanced. We are also developing connection options for the Lí Ban site, as the Deputy said, and the wider south coast DMAP zones. One of the lessons from other countries is that generation and infrastructure must continue to be planned together. That is precisely the model that we are pursuing in Ireland. The reason that is required is that the planning process and grid capacity need to be prioritised. The Government is investing over €18 billion in EirGrid over the next five years to ensure we have the grid capacity to bring offshore and onshore into generation. We have also established the offshore wind energy programme, which is providing a whole-of-government delivery framework. The task force has been assigned the task of alleviating challenges. The critically important work of the task force includes looking at planning and grid infrastructure, remediating any of the challenges and having a national co-ordinated programme. The offshore delivery task force is about delivery and ensuring we continue our engagement with An Coimisiún Pleanála. It is good that we now have a 65-week time limit for getting a decision. We will continue to work with developers in this regard.

To be clear, the auction will take place next year and there is concern that, with the Celtic interconnector and the Tonn Nua and Lí Ban sites, the capacity is not there and the necessary planning is not taking place. Is the Department satisfied that the infrastructure will definitely be in place to take these projects ashore? Not only is it important to give clarity to the developers, but it is also important because the development of offshore wind is essential in reducing energy bills. As the Minister of State will be aware, energy bills are tied into the international gas markets. We need offshore wind. I accept that the companies will have to make a buck out of it. People are waiting for a new offshore revolution which will help them in their struggle with energy bills. To reduce energy prices, it is important that this project takes place on time. The record to date does not instill a huge amount of confidence.

The Celtic interconnector is being built and the expectation is that it will be energised by 2028. The developers will build the offshore grid projects as their projects advance. The good news is that all five phase 1 projects remain active, with planning applications submitted, and work is continuing on the grid connections in parallel. They are continuing to advance those with EirGrid. The Government continues to engage regularly with the developers to support progress. The question now is whether projects are moving forward, and they are. As I outlined, our priority now is to ensure we continue to work on delivering the independent planning decisions and continue to invest in grid infrastructure capacity. It is anticipated that the first planning determinations will be delivered in quarter 1 or quarter 2 of 2027. Subject to those planning approvals, all of these projects could be in construction before 2030. Alongside the significant work that is under way in regard to the grid infrastructure, these phase 1 projects have provisional grid connection arrangements. The negotiations, as I said, with EirGrid on the offshore transmission infrastructure are nearing a conclusion. We hope to be in a position to progress those. In terms of progressing the Tonn Nua project, over 900 MW off the west coast of Waterford, maritime area consent was secured early this year. That is progressing through detailed surveys and development. I acknowledge the progress that has been made, notwithstanding the challenges that these megaprojects face.