Energy

Ireland likely to miss 2030 renewable energy targets due to offshore wind policy U-turn

Mid-process move to centralised plan-led system leading to uncertainty among international wind energy investors

Noel Cunniffe, CEO, Wind Energy Ireland: ‘We are effectively being told to stop developing offshore wind energy and wait for further decisions.’ Picture: Andres Poveda

Ireland is set to miss its 2030 renewable energy targets following a “radical” change in offshore wind policy over recent weeks, senior energy industry figures have warned.

On Friday, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) released a 26-page policy statement confirming that wind energy developers would no longer be able to choose their own sites for offshore projects due to be built between now and 2030.

Instead, Ireland will shift to a ...