Seven new offshore wind projects have been given Maritime Area Consents by Environment and Climate Minister Eamon Ryan.
Wind Energy Ireland welcomed the announcement on Friday morning.
The approvals will allow those behind the projects to complete their final environmental surveys and apply to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission in the first half of 2023.
Read more: Eamon Ryan says dealing with energy crisis goes hand-in-hand with climate action
Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “This is another big step forward for offshore wind energy in Ireland. It means these projects will be able to apply for planning permission and to compete in the first offshore renewable energy auction next year.
“Today’s announcement is renewed evidence of the Government’s determination to deliver its ambitious offshore wind energy target and will give confidence to our industry and the international supply-chain. “
Eamon Ryan said at the WEI conference in Dublin last week Ireland could be “really good” at delivering on renewables and that the cost of living crisis "is caused by our reliance on fossil fuels".
"The solution is to develop our own power supplies, really be efficient in how we use that energy and that will be good for energy security, for bringing the bills down. It will also be good in terms of climate."
“This is the industrial revolution of our time and while in Ireland we have been slow to start we are now up and running and we are actually going to deliver and make sure this is good for creating jobs in our country, for giving us energy security, for bringing the bills down and help tackle climate change,” he added.
“We’ve shown we can do this with onshore wind, now we need to do it with offshore and the scale and potential benefit to our country is beyond compare.”
'Essential we keep up the momentum'
Noel Cunniffe said following his announcement on Friday: “It is essential we keep up the momentum. The welcome announcement earlier this month that An Bord Pleanála will be instructed to prioritise applications from offshore wind needs to be backed up with resources.
“We cannot build these wind farms if we cannot get planning permission for them and we cannot do this without a planning system that is fit for purpose, robust and transparent.”
