Offshore wind potential in Ireland has been prepared by BVG Associates (BVGA), Gavin and Doherty Geosolutions (GDG), and AFRY for the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC). Following the creation of the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) in October 2024, DECC wishes to progress designating suitable areas for offshore development within Ireland’s Maritime Area.
To support this, we have undertaken preliminary analysis of the capacity of both fixed and floating offshore wind (OSW) that could practically be developed in different regions. This analysis establishes the areas of technical feasibility for OSW development and provides a high level assessment of potential areas for project development to inform planning; rather than an in-depth marine spatial planning process, which will be led by DECC as part of the DMAP development process.
To complement this analysis, Offshore wind potential in Ireland also provides recommendations for supporting the OSW industry in Ireland. These include an assessment of case studies from existing floating OSW projects in other markets, a review of Ireland’s supply chain readiness for both fixed and floating OSW, and the identification of opportunities for collaboration between Ireland and other countries to help support the OSW industry. For the avoidance of doubt, the Offshore wind potential in Ireland report should not be considered a DECC policy paper, its purpose is to support decision making.