Ireland starts process to award 1st maritime consents for offshore wind

The Irish government on Monday said the first batch of offshore wind projects can now apply for Maritime Area Consents (MACs).

There are seven qualified projects, known as "relevant projects", that can submit applications. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has interim powers to assess them until a maritime area agency is established next year.

The first MACs are expected to be awarded in the second half of 2022. This would allow the first Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme, the first offshore wind auction, to open in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The seven qualified projects are Oriel Wind Park, two RWE projects -- Bray and Kish Banks, Codling Wind Park consisting of 2 projects -- Codling I and Codling II, Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta’s Skerd Rocks and North Irish Sea Array.

A second batch of projects will be needed for Ireland to be able to reach its 2030 goal of 5 GW of offshore wind.

Developers should have a MAC in order to seek permission, to include environmental assessments, from An Bord Pleanala.

"Never has it been more vital that we use our vast offshore wind resource to create renewable energy and ensure the security of our own energy supply,” Ryan said, adding that offshore wind development will reduce and eventually eliminate dependence on imported fossil fuels.

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