A New Body with Familiar Promises

In September 2025, Ireland unveiled its Offshore Wind Energy Clearing House, a government-chaired body tasked with unblocking bottlenecks in the offshore sector. It follows earlier efforts such as the Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and the draft National Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP).

While the Clearing House brings higher-level oversight under the Secretary General, its reliance on the same under-resourced agencies raises questions. Industry groups point out that delays at An Bord Pleanála and the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) have already slowed down projects by years. The challenge is not in setting up new structures but in fixing the ones already in place.

Ports Racing Against the Clock

If wind farms are to move from drawings to reality, ports need to be ready. The most ambitious development is at Rosslare Europort, which is preparing for its largest expansion ever. Plans include doubling its footprint, adding deep-water berths, and building assembly and service facilities for offshore wind. Work is expected to start in late 2026 and take about two years.

Elsewhere, Shannon-Foynes, Cork, and Belfast also have offshore-ready expansion projects on paper. But the price tags are eye-watering: €220 million for Rosslare and as much as €500 million for Shannon-Foynes. Without clear signals on government support or private financing, progress will be uneven.

Think of ports as the staging grounds for a marathon: the runners are ready, but the track is still being laid. Until it’s finished, the race can’t begin.

Legal and Regulatory Headwinds

Even with infrastructure in place, regulatory hurdles threaten Ireland’s 2030 targets. A recent report from Clark Hill warns that projects could slip by four to eight years due to lengthy appeals and judicial reviews. Developers often find themselves caught in a maze of overlapping permissions, each one vulnerable to delay.

One project leader described the process as “building a house where every brick requires a separate permit.” It’s not the technical challenge that slows Ireland down—it’s the paperwork.

Political Shifts and Industry Patience

Ireland’s ambitions have shifted over time: first 5GW of offshore wind by 2030, then 7GW after 2022. But shifting targets without decisive leadership risk damaging investor confidence. Industry groups like Wind Energy Ireland have warned that without “whole-of-government” action, opportunities will slip away.

At the same time, skepticism at home is growing. For years, Ireland has been described as the potential “Saudi of renewables.” Yet the phrase now feels more like a headline than a reality check. Industry leaders say the expertise and technology are ready to go—the missing pieces are political will and coordinated delivery.

Source: Breakbulk News