Consultation on the offshore renewable energy (ORE) Future Framework Policy Statement
Consultation Overview
The aim of this consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on aspects of the offshore renewable energy (ORE) Future Framework Policy Statement – an over-arching future framework for development of offshore wind in Ireland’s territorial seawaters and exclusive economic zone. This framework aims to deliver 20GW by 2040; and at least 37 GW in total by 2050.
Do you have thoughts on how Ireland should implement the long-term plan to ORE development? If so, you can take part in our public consultation by accessing the CiviQ online consultation platform between 22 January and 26 February 2024. The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback on the draft Future Framework policy statement and its associated economic market analysis reports. We are also open to receiving feedback on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening process.
We particularly welcome views from ORE industry representatives including electricity suppliers, off takers and likely developers as well as anyone with an interest in the future of ORE development in Ireland.
The draft Future Framework Policy Statement establishes 21 key actions setting out future directions and intergovernmental dependencies that will be addressed through subsequent policy to develop and initiate the long-term, plan-led approach to Ireland’s ORE future.
The Future Framework policy is built on an analysis of economic opportunities to encourage investment and explores export potential for surplus electricity, energy, and green products and services specifically through increased interconnection and renewable hydrogen. Pathways have been identified to optimise the financial and economic return to the State and local communities, including financial mechanisms and job creation opportunities.
The Phase Two Policy Statement adopted by Government in March 2023 provides for a plan-led, centralised approach to future ORE delivery in Ireland. The final phase of offshore wind deployment is referred to as the Future Framework, which builds on previous ORE policy both published and in development and is informed by all previous public consultation carried out by DECC.
The Future Framework is key to:
Decarbonising our economy in line with legally binding national targets and international climate ambitions;
Ensuring long-term energy security; and
Developing green industrial opportunities for ORE such as export markets.
The Future Framework policy statement is informed by economic analysis including a recent set of reports commissioned by DECC and provided by AFRY Managing Consultants and BVG Associates. The commissioned economic market analysis was conducted to assess the viability of ORE targets and potential export opportunities. External consultants AFRY and BVG Associates produced five reports focused on the following workstreams:
WS1 – Market Analysis: create relevant power market scenarios with varying ORE capacity and interconnection targets for elaboration in subsequent workstreams.
WS2 – Interconnection: assess the technical and financial viability of electricity export via interconnection predominantly to France, the UK, and other northern European countries.
WS3 – Renewable hydrogen: analyse the potential hydrogen future in Ireland including maximising cost-competitiveness.
WS4 – Export viability: evaluate the export viability and implications in terms of Gross Value Added and employment benefits as well as policy, trade, and investment considerations.
WS5 – Societal return: provide commentary on the financial and economic return to the State and local communities including recommended regulatory mechanisms
The AFRY/BVG economic analysis reports are available to view under the Materials section
SEA/AA Screening Report of the draft Future Framework Policy Statement
To accompany the publication of the Future Framework Policy Statement public consultation, a screening report for SEA and Appropriate Assessment (AA) is being conducted by Mace Consultancy Ltd. The screening of this policy statement is ongoing throughout the duration of the public consultation process.
The SEA/AA screening reports are available to view under the Materials section
How to make a submission
You can take part in our public consultation by accessing the CiviQ online consultation platform between 22 January 2024 and 26 February 2024.
Focus questions are included throughout the draft Future Framework Policy Statement and collated at the end of the document to be accessed in the Materials section here. Respondents are encouraged to consider these questions as well as any additional feedback on the Future Framework or the ancillary economic and environmental reports.
The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm 26 February 2024.
Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
29-21 Adelaide Road
Dublin 2
D02 X285
Future Framework consultation information sessions
During the 4-week consultation period, we are organising a set of two online public information sessions to raise awareness of, and get feedback on, the draft Future Framework Policy Statement and associated reports. The information sessions themselves will be hosted as online events.
Information Session 1: Thursday 1 February 2024 (14:00 – 16:00)
General information session and overview of the first three workstreams of the economic analysis (Market Analysis, Interconnection and Renewable Hydrogen).
Other online stakeholder workshop events to be held will be by invitation only.
Data protection
We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final versions of the Future Framework Policy Statement.
Your response to this consultation is subject to:
the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI)
the Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE)
the Data Protection Act 2018
Publishing of responses
We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.
Please indicate any sensitive information
In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:
personal information
commercially sensitive information
confidential information
Read our Data Privacy Notice
We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:
how and when we collect personal data
why we do so
how we treat this information
your rights in relation to the collection of personal information
how you can exercise those rights
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Submissions
16 submissions have raised observations relating to this consultation.
Future Framework Public Consultation
Consultation on the offshore renewable energy (ORE) Future Framework Policy Statement
Consultation Overview
The aim of this consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on aspects of the offshore renewable energy (ORE) Future Framework Policy Statement – an over-arching future framework for development of offshore wind in Ireland’s territorial seawaters and exclusive economic zone. This framework aims to deliver 20GW by 2040; and at least 37 GW in total by 2050.
Do you have thoughts on how Ireland should implement the long-term plan to ORE development? If so, you can take part in our public consultation by accessing the CiviQ online consultation platform between 22 January and 26 February 2024. The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback on the draft Future Framework policy statement and its associated economic market analysis reports. We are also open to receiving feedback on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) screening process.
We particularly welcome views from ORE industry representatives including electricity suppliers, off takers and likely developers as well as anyone with an interest in the future of ORE development in Ireland.
The draft Future Framework Policy Statement is available to view under the Materials section
Background
The draft Future Framework Policy Statement establishes 21 key actions setting out future directions and intergovernmental dependencies that will be addressed through subsequent policy to develop and initiate the long-term, plan-led approach to Ireland’s ORE future.
The Future Framework policy is built on an analysis of economic opportunities to encourage investment and explores export potential for surplus electricity, energy, and green products and services specifically through increased interconnection and renewable hydrogen. Pathways have been identified to optimise the financial and economic return to the State and local communities, including financial mechanisms and job creation opportunities.
The Phase Two Policy Statement adopted by Government in March 2023 provides for a plan-led, centralised approach to future ORE delivery in Ireland. The final phase of offshore wind deployment is referred to as the Future Framework, which builds on previous ORE policy both published and in development and is informed by all previous public consultation carried out by DECC.
The Future Framework is key to:
The Future Framework policy statement is informed by economic analysis including a recent set of reports commissioned by DECC and provided by AFRY Managing Consultants and BVG Associates. The commissioned economic market analysis was conducted to assess the viability of ORE targets and potential export opportunities. External consultants AFRY and BVG Associates produced five reports focused on the following workstreams:
The AFRY/BVG economic analysis reports are available to view under the Materials section
SEA/AA Screening Report of the draft Future Framework Policy Statement
To accompany the publication of the Future Framework Policy Statement public consultation, a screening report for SEA and Appropriate Assessment (AA) is being conducted by Mace Consultancy Ltd. The screening of this policy statement is ongoing throughout the duration of the public consultation process.
The SEA/AA screening reports are available to view under the Materials section
How to make a submission
You can take part in our public consultation by accessing the CiviQ online consultation platform between 22 January 2024 and 26 February 2024.
Focus questions are included throughout the draft Future Framework Policy Statement and collated at the end of the document to be accessed in the Materials section here. Respondents are encouraged to consider these questions as well as any additional feedback on the Future Framework or the ancillary economic and environmental reports.
The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm 26 February 2024.
Submissions should be made on the CiviQ online consultation platform, be sent by email to FutureFrameworkpublicconsultation@decc.gov.ie, or be sent by post to:
Future Framework consultation information sessions
During the 4-week consultation period, we are organising a set of two online public information sessions to raise awareness of, and get feedback on, the draft Future Framework Policy Statement and associated reports. The information sessions themselves will be hosted as online events.
Zoom link Information Session 2: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86773226195
Other online stakeholder workshop events to be held will be by invitation only.
Data protection
We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. We will consider all submissions and feedback before we publish the final versions of the Future Framework Policy Statement.
Your response to this consultation is subject to:
Publishing of responses
We intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact (remove) personal data before publication.
Please indicate any sensitive information
In responding to this consultation, clearly indicate where your response contains any information which you would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published. This can include:
Read our Data Privacy Notice
We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains:
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Submissions
Themes
Materials