In a significant move to strengthen Ireland's commitment to offshore wind energy, Minister for the Environment, Climate, and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, announced the launch of a second offshore wind auction in 2025. Speaking at the Wind Energy Trade Show 2024, Ryan confirmed the auction, which will add to the previously announced auction for the Tonn Nua site off the coast of Waterford, set for early 2025.

Minister Ryan told the gathering of several hundred delegates, "I believe an auction should take place for the second site identified off the southern coast, known as Lí Ban, before the end of next year."

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, welcomed the announcement, calling it "a tremendous boost for Irish offshore wind energy. It sends a message that will be heard right around Europe, that Ireland is committed to offshore wind and determined to accelerate."

The Lí Ban site, located off Ireland's southern coast, is significantly larger than the Tonn Nua site. Estimates suggest that a wind farm at Lí Ban could have a capacity between 1,100 MW to 1,500 MW, compared to the proposed 900 MW at Tonn Nua.

Both sites were identified in the Designated Maritime Area Plan approved by the Oireachtas in early October 2024, signaling Ireland's continued commitment to expanding its offshore wind energy infrastructure.

Onshore wind energy milestone

Additionally, Cunniffe announced that Ireland is on track to reach 5,000 MW of installed onshore wind capacity before the end of 2024. This milestone was announced as over a thousand delegates arrived for the second-ever Wind Energy Trade Show in Ireland. Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, highlighted the importance of onshore wind in the country's energy strategy, noting, "Ireland is a huge opportunity for investors combining arguably the best untapped offshore wind resource in the world, with a skilled workforce, decades of experience in onshore wind energy and an increasingly supportive policy framework."

Cunniffe emphasized that the country’s onshore wind farms not only contribute to Ireland’s renewable energy goals but also support 5,000 jobs and provide vital economic benefits to rural communities. "These onshore wind farms support 5,000 jobs, invest tens of millions of euro into rural economies every year and provide clean, affordable electricity to Irish families, businesses and communities. Every single turbine is an Irish success story," he said.

Momentum for offshore wind growth

The Trade Show also celebrated recent positive developments in offshore wind energy. In recent months, the Irish government has unveiled a new national industrial strategy for offshore wind, positioning Ireland to lead Europe’s energy transition. The government has also published a Future Framework for offshore wind post-2030.

Noel Cunniffe stressed the importance of the upcoming offshore wind projects, stating, "In 2024 the first six offshore wind energy projects in a generation will apply for planning permission. Delivering all of these projects safely through the planning system must be a national priority." These projects are crucial not only for Ireland’s 2030 climate action targets but also for building a strong supply chain for future wind energy farms. Cunniffe concluded, "Each of those projects is another building block laying the foundation of Irish energy independence."