Status Update: Irish Offshore Renewable Energy – Phase Two

The Irish Government recently published its highly anticipated Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind¹ ("the "Phase Two Policy Statement"), setting out the legal and regulatory framework which will apply to projects participating in the second phase of offshore wind development in Ireland (known as "Phase Two Projects").

Irish Offshore Wind Development - Progress to Date

The Phase Two Policy Statement follows the Irish Government's initial Policy Statement on the Framework for Ireland's Offshore Electricity Transmission System published in May 2021² (the "Initial Policy Statement"), which set out a three-phased approach to offshore wind development.

Since then, the Irish Government's primary focus has been to develop a legal and regulatory framework that can be used by the first phase of seven "Relevant Projects" (known as "Phase One Projects") and then by future rounds of Irish offshore wind development (with modifications to reflect