Energy infrastructure

The EU ban on Russian coal goes into effect at midnight tonight. Did we source our coal from there for Moneypoint or somewhere else?

Yeah no hope of that deadline being met. ABP went back looking for more info last week and its unlikely that info will be provided and reviewed in time for that deadline so I think its safe to say there's no decision likely on this before the xmas if ABP maintain form in terms of extension durations.

On a side note, if this gets approval and gets built its going to be an expensive source as it won't be allowed to accept fracked gas from the US so will have to source from Qatar or elsewhere

Would be interesting to see what would happen if ABP approved it but with a condition that it could not import fracked gas per the govt stance.

Probably be challenged and would add years more to the timeline if they did challenge it

Its honestly getting difficult to keep track of all the bits the govt are setting up for offshore wind development

We have

• National Marine Planning framework
• Marine Area Planning and Consent
• Maritime Area Planning Agency (MARA)
• Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) and ORDEP II

and just announced, the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce

From the link: (Note it talks about 5GW, but thats already out of date as thats been increased to 7GW by 2030)

The work of the offshore wind delivery taskforce is framed by the overarching objective of deploying 5GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, as part of the Government’s objective of up to 80% of Ireland's electricity being met from renewable sources by 2030.

The key objectives of the Taskforce are to:

• develop a system wide project plan, collating all activities underway across departments and agencies to ensure delivery of offshore wind and related targets;
• identify all aspects of work on the critical path, identify gaps, any areas of duplication, opportunities, potential for synergies and proactively manage risks to drive ensure delivery;
• identify opportunities to accelerate and align delivery of medium-term outcomes;
• ensure the potential benefits from establishing the offshore wind industry are maximised;
• ensure consistent messaging to the public and all stakeholders on what is happening regarding offshore wind energy and the benefits that will be delivered; and
• ensure alignment in the development of the ORE sector with work being progressed to improve and protect marine biodiversity through designation of Marine Protected Areas

The member organisations are:

• Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
• Department of Transport;
• Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment;
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science;
• Department of Public Expenditure and Reform;
• Department of Rural and Community Development,
• Enterprise Ireland;
• Commission for Regulation of Utilities; and
• EirGrid.

Within our 5GW objective, medium-term/interim outcomes will guide the initial work of the delivery taskforce and the system wide acceleration of offshore wind development. The proposed outcomes include ensuring that -

• At least 5GW of offshore wind is procured and consented (or significantly progressed through planning) by 2025 and on track for delivery by 2030;
• All aspects of the regulatory framework related to the construction and operational phases of offshore wind projects, including the safety framework, is fully scoped, developed and in place by end 2023;
• All Grid projects required for 2030 are designed and going through consenting process and on track for delivery of 2030 targets;
• The potential economic and societal benefits from establishing the offshore wind industry are maximised (ports/supply chain/jobs);
• A strategy and implementation plan is developed for ORE development beyond 2030; including key milestones for floating offshore wind.
• The supply chain and skills capability, including ecological and environmental, is in place for maximisation of benefit to Ireland and to guarantee delivery success; and
• Alignment in the development of the Offshore Renewable Energy sector with work being progressed to improve and protect marine biodiversity through designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and implementation of the Birds, Habitats and Marine Strategy Framework Directives more broadly

As mentioned, the OREDP has been updated. The first one was focused on the East and Southeast coasts. The new one is focused on the whole EEZ with a view to having at least 30GW of offshore