Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan consultation

Views sought on plan to deliver on the ambition of deploying 1GW of offshore wind from 2030 in Northern Ireland waters.

The Department for the Economy (DfE) has published a draft action plan to deliver 1 Gigawatt (GW) of offshore wind from 2030 in NI waters.

The Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland, launched in December 2021, established a renewable electricity consumption target of 70 per cent by 2030 that was then increased to 80 per cent by 2030 by the Climate Change (Northern Ireland) Act 2022. The Energy Strategy also established a commitment to diversify the renewables generation technology mix, with an initial focus on offshore wind and marine renewables.

Offshore renewable energy development in the NI marine area offers an opportunity for both decarbonisation and economic benefit to NI communities and businesses.

The consultation contains twelve questions that will seek clarification from stakeholders, including those who manage or work in the marine environment and with the energy industry. It questions whether you agree with the principles and the actions proposed to take forward to deliver the Energy Strategy’s offshore wind ambition and seeks their views and input on the draft plan.

Find out more about the Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan consultation and how to respond.

First published 22 December 2022