Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan

The Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) and its accompanying Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) established a framework for the sustainable development of Ireland's offshore renewable energy resource.

The OREDP sets out the broader context for the development of Ireland's offshore wind and ocean renewable energy sectors, and the current state of play with regard to the range of policy areas that must be coordinated in order to create the conditions necessary to support the development of these sectors. A key output from the OREDP is the identification of ways to ensure the optimal coordination of a wide range of government departments, agencies and state bodies that are critical enablers for offshore wind and ocean energy development. The Plan identifies the next steps that must be taken to support the sustainable realisation of the economic potential of offshore renewable energy resources.

Taking into account a number of energy, economic development and environmental issues, the Plan identifies ten policy and enabling actions, along with responsible bodies and completion timeframes, which are key to the development of the offshore renewable energy sector: (i) put in place a robust governance structure; (ii) increase exchequer support for ocean research, development and demonstration; (iii) introduce initial market support tariff for ocean energy; (iv) develop renewable electricity export markets; (v) develop the supply chain for the offshore renewable energy industry; (vi) communicate that Ireland is open for business; (vii) explore potential for international collaboration; (viii) introduce a new planning and consent architecture for development in the marine area; (ix) put in place a number of mitigation measures to protect the environment; and (x) ensure appropriate infrastructure development.