Wind Energy Generation
Dail Éireann — 2025-12-18
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Timmy Dooley (FF), Clare

To the Deputy's last point, we are fortunate that due to the way in which our auctions are designed, we have attracted significant bidders. Four is particularly good. There were instances in the UK, Denmark and Germany where there were no bidders because they had moved away from the contract for difference component of the auction. We are, therefore, in a very healthy position. What we have done in recent years is move towards the plan-led approach. Prior to that, it was basically that developers identified sites and came forward. The planning process was somewhat slower at that time and they ran into some complications. There are a number of them out there - about five - that we want to progress and are progressing through the planning phases. They will be very significant contributors to our generation. However, the plan-led approach that is there now is working. The example I have given the Deputy of the Tonn Nua site off the south-east coast in terms of the design of the auction has worked really well, and there is interest. We are regularly in contact with potential bidders to ensure they understand what the Government strategy is. What they want is certainty. They want to know that the country is committed to offshore, which we are, and that there is a pipeline of projects. We have set a plan in place now for that timeline.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-12-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:29+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-18