Saturday, 13 September 2025
Irish Government Unveils National Plan to Identify Offshore Wind Farm Sites by 2027 The Irish Government has published a proposal that sets out how future offshore wind farm sites will be identified and developed through to 2040, aiming to accelerate the country’s transition to renewable energy. The plan will support both fixed-bottom and floating wind […]
The Irish Government has published a proposal that sets out how future offshore wind farm sites will be identified and developed through to 2040, aiming to accelerate the country’s transition to renewable energy. The plan will support both fixed-bottom and floating wind technologies, with a focus on sustainable and strategic development across Ireland’s maritime area.
Historically, offshore wind projects in Ireland were developed on a case-by-case basis. The new proposal introduces a more coordinated approach through a National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) for Offshore Renewable Energy, published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.
This national DMAP will outline areas suitable for offshore renewable energy development, and it is designed to streamline planning approvals, reduce uncertainty, and support long-term investment. It builds on the South Coast DMAP, which was approved in 2023 and includes four designated sites off the coasts of Waterford and Wexford.
The plan supports the development of both fixed-bottom wind farms in shallower waters and floating wind farms in deeper, more challenging conditions. Demonstration projects will be used to test floating wind technology in the Atlantic Ocean, which presents more hostile environmental conditions than the Irish Sea.
One of the most forward-looking aspects of Ireland’s DMAP is its inclusion of floating wind demonstrator projects. Unlike fixed-bottom turbines, floating wind platforms are tethered to the seabed and can be deployed in much deeper waters, opening up previously inaccessible areas for renewable energy development.
Investing in floating wind early positions Ireland to:
Lead in an emerging global market, expected to grow exponentially over the next two decades.
Reduce visual and environmental impact by placing turbines further offshore.
Stimulate innovation in Irish engineering, marine services, and manufacturing sectors.
The Government has committed to extensive public and stakeholder consultation in 2026 and 2027, with the draft national DMAP expected in early 2027. This draft will then be brought before the Oireachtas for approval.
While the Government has not yet specified how many sites will be designated or the exact density of future wind farms, a survey of Ireland’s maritime area, extending up to 200 nautical miles offshore, will inform these decisions.
The national DMAP is part of Ireland’s strategy to achieve 20 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2040, well above the country’s current electricity needs. For context, 15GW could power approximately 14 million homes. In the shorter term, the Government aims to reach 5GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.
Speaking about the initiative, Minister of State for Climate, Energy and the Environment Timmy Dooley said the DMAP will provide “a clear and sustainable framework” for offshore renewable energy development. It aims to balance economic growth, environmental protection, and community engagement.
Minister Dooley emphasized that the shift to renewable energy is vital due to the impacts of human-caused climate change and increasing geopolitical instability, which has made fossil fuels both unreliable and unaffordable.
He added, “These combined pressures reinforce the need to accelerate our transition to indigenous and transformative renewable energy sources… The DMAP process will ensure developments in Ireland’s maritime area take place in a managed and sustainable way.”
Ireland’s embrace of offshore wind isn’t just about climate mitigation, it’s also about climate adaptation and national energy security. As geopolitical uncertainty, like the war in Ukraine and global fuel supply shocks, has shown, relying on fossil fuel imports can be both economically risky and politically destabilising.
By investing in indigenous energy sources like offshore wind, Ireland can:
Reduce exposure to volatile global energy markets.
Stabilise domestic electricity prices over the long term.
Build resilient infrastructure that supports rural and coastal economies in the face of climate impacts.
The DMAP process also outlines how stakeholders in environmental and fisheries sectors can participate in the planning process. According to Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien, the national plan will “provide greater certainty for our marine stakeholders and the renewables industry.”
The Government hopes that a unified national approach will speed up the deployment of wind farms and give communities and developers a clearer picture of what lies ahead.
In summary, the National DMAP is a key part of Ireland’s strategy to become a leader in offshore renewable energy. With the draft plan expected by 2027, and significant consultation scheduled, this marks a strategic turning point in how the country plans, develops, and manages its offshore energy future.
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