Summary
The Energy Strategy for Northern Ireland, launched by former Economy Minister Gordon Lyons in December 2021, established a renewable electricity consumption target of 70% by 2030 that was then increased to 80% 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.
Documents
- Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan consultation
- Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan - privacy notice
- Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan equality screening
Consultation description
To deliver on the Energy Strategy, the Department for the Economy (DfE) published its intention to develop an action plan to deliver 1GW of offshore wind in the Energy Strategy Action Plan 2022 (published 16 January 2022).
Over the course of 2022, DfE led the development of the Draft Offshore Renewable Energy Action Plan (OREAP), taking the first steps towards delivering on the commitments established in the Energy Strategy.
The Draft OREAP is the first step towards delivering on the ambition of deploying 1 Gigawatt (GW) of offshore wind from 2030 in NI waters. Offshore renewable energy development in the NI marine area offers an opportunity for both decarbonisation and economic benefit to NI communities and businesses. The OREAP is designed to accelerate the Energy Strategy ambition, setting the pathway to achieving the deployment of offshore wind in advance of 2030, if feasibly possible.
The consultation contains twelve questions which will seek clarification from stakeholders as to whether they agree with the principles and the actions that DfE and partners have proposed to take forward to deliver the Energy Strategy’s offshore wind ambition and seeks their views and input on the Draft OREAP.
We encourage everyone who has an interest in offshore renewable energy development and the wider energy sector to provide comments on the Draft OREAP by answering the public consultation questions included in this document. This will provide DfE with valuable insight, which will be analysed and considered throughout the further development and implementation of the OREAP.
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.