Proper resourcing of An Bord Pleanála is needed for Ireland to become a “world leader” in offshore wind energy, according to Wind Energy Ireland.

On Newstalk Breakfast today, its CEO Noel Cunniffe said Ireland must take advantage of its vast maritime area, which is seven times larger than its land area.

Arklow Bank Wind Park in County Wicklow is currently Ireland’s only offshore wind farm, which was constructed 20 years ago.

Mr Cunniffe said this will soon change as it's “a very exciting time” for wind energy in Ireland.

“For the first time in a generation, six projects are going to enter the planning system in Ireland over the next 12 weeks,” he said.

“Yesterday, the Government also announced their offshore plans for wind energy, for how we can develop fixed bottom and floating offshore wind [turbines] all around the coastlines of Ireland.

“We’re calling this morning for a little more clarity as to where and when that offshore wind energy will be developed, but also to call for more resourcing into our planning system to get the projects through.”

'Struggling to cope'

Mr Cunniffe said the planning system is the biggest obstacle to Ireland reaching its wind energy potential.

“Right now, the system is struggling to cope,” he said.

“Last year, more onshore wind projects went into the system than ever before; they are also joined by dozens of solar projects, battery projects and electricity grid projects.”

Wind turbines in Tipperary, 30-11-2018. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

He said the six applications being submitted to An Bord Pleanála in the coming months will be very challenging for the system to manage.

“Those environmental reports for the planning applications alone are 6,000 or 7,000 pages long for each of those projects,” he said.

“Trying to turn around those projects in a suitable time so we can get these out of the planning system and deliver them before the end of the decade is really important.

“It needs to be a national priority that our planning system has the resources and the expertise to deliver that.”

Potential

Mr Cunniffe said the potential of offshore wind is enormous in Ireland.

“I think Ireland can be a world leader in floating wind energy,” he said.

“It creates huge opportunities for coastal opportunities, new businesses and energy parks around the coast of Ireland that can really attract new types of businesses to take advantage of green electricity coming on shore.”

Mr Cunniffe also called for increased investment in Ireland’s electricity grid.

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Main image: An offshore windfarm in the north of England. Image: Islandstock / Alamy Stock Photo