This is the country’s first spatial plan for renewable energy at sea and it will now undergo a six-week public consultation.
The draft South Coast DMAP suggests a first offshore wind project, of around 900 MW, will occur in Tonn Nua off the coast of County Waterford, with deployment aimed for by 2030.
Wind Energy Ireland (WEI), which represents the Irish wind industry, welcomed the publication of proposed locations for offshore wind farms off the south coast.
“Today [May 3] is a genuinely historic day for the development of offshore wind energy in Ireland and clears the way for a second offshore wind auction before the end of the year,” said WEI CEO Noel Cunniffe.