Ireland is moving ahead with its first marine spatial plan dedicated to renewable energy. The South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) sets out how fixed offshore renewable energy can be developed while protecting biodiversity, supporting coastal communities and managing competing maritime uses.
Published by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, the implementation update outlines progress on governance, stakeholder engagement, technical planning and environmental research. The SC-DMAP was approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2024.
Offshore Renewable Energy Areas Identified off Ireland’s South Coast
The plan identifies four maritime areas where fixed offshore renewable energy projects are proposed over the coming decade. Area A, known as Tonn Nua, is the first area to progress following an Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction.
Helvic Head Offshore Wind DAC, a joint venture between ESB and Denmark-based developer Ørsted, was announced as the successful bidder for Site A – Tonn Nua. Further offshore wind deployment is proposed in Maritime Areas B, C and D beyond 2030.
Projects will still need to secure all required consents and complete project-level environmental assessments before construction can proceed. This ensures that potential effects on marine ecosystems, navigation, fisheries and coastal communities are properly examined.
Governance and Environmental Oversight for the SC-DMAP
The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment is the competent authority overseeing the plan’s governance arrangements. Support is provided by the SC-DMAP Implementation Programme Body, which brings partners and stakeholders together and helps ensure environmental and community interests are included in decision-making.
Several specialist groups are supporting implementation:
- The Marine Ecosystems and Ornithology Working Group advises on environmental issues and Regional Level Surveys.
- The Ecosystems and Implementation Plan Subgroup supports ecosystem mapping and applied offshore wind research with the Marine Institute.
- The Technical Working Group examines transmission infrastructure, ports and other enabling infrastructure.
- The Data Project Working Group reviews existing maritime information and helps develop a shared data repository.
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Stakeholder Engagement and Marine Data
Implementation involves the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, EirGrid, industry representatives, the Marine Institute, environmental organisations, local communities and fishing interests. Engagement also continues through national structures including the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and Project Ireland Marine 2040.
Community and fisheries liaison services are intended to support communication with coastal residents, fishers and representative bodies. This is particularly important as offshore wind development may interact with shipping, ports, fishing activity and marine conservation.
A high-level vessel activity review examined 12 months of Automatic Identification System data collected during 2023. The analysis was commissioned to identify areas of high vessel density and possible constraints within the SC-DMAP area.
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Next Steps for Offshore Wind Planning
Regional Level Surveys are now being scoped for Maritime Areas B, C and D. These studies will help determine the appropriate scale and locations for potential projects. Once finalised by the Marine Ecosystems and Ornithology Working Group and approved by the Implementation Programme Body, the surveys will be published.
The resulting information is expected to be made available through the SC-DMAP Data Repository for government departments, State bodies, project applicants, environmental NGOs and the public.
Conclusion
The SC-DMAP provides a structured framework for expanding offshore renewable energy in Ireland while recognising the importance of marine protection and community involvement. Its next phase will depend on detailed surveys, transparent engagement and robust consent procedures. For Ireland’s clean-energy transition, the plan marks an important step from national ambition toward carefully managed offshore wind delivery.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
