What’s the issue?
Clean energy is of vital importance for tackling the climate and biodiversity emergency and offshore renewable energy (ORE) infrastructure such as wind farms, will be key components for our future energy supply and trajectory towards net zero. However, inappropriately located sites can have negative effects on our environment and biodiversity. While we support an increase in renewable energy, it must not come at the expense of our natural environment.
Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2024 reiterated the commitments in the Energy Security in Ireland to 2030 strategy to meet 80% of Ireland’s needs with renewable electricity by 2030, including at least 5 GW from offshore wind projects, as part of a transition away from an oil- and gas-based energy system. These targets highlight the expected increase (200 fold) in offshore renewables over the coming years.
SWAN is broadly supportive of Ireland’s plan-led (rather than developer-led) strategy of Designated Maritime Area Plans (DMAPs), which are management plans for specific areas of our seas. The first DMAP is planned for the South Coast (SC-DMAP). SWAN welcomed that the four identified Maritime Areas have no exclusions and low environmental constraints, with the draft SC-DMAP not overlapping with any existing Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs), as well as a buffer zone around the proposed Seas Off Wexford SPA (SWAN response here). However, there must be ongoing monitoring and analysis of biodiversity and ecosystem effects throughout the process, with the expertise of environmental NGOs and local input from coastal communities made central to planning.
The Future Framework Policy Statement for Offshore Renewable Energy was published in May 2024, with SWAN welcoming of the plan’s assurance that ORE development will be aligned with the protection of marine biodiversity through SACs and SPAs, with environmental concerns prioritised from planning stage through decommissioning. However, we have not observed this to be the case thus far. See SWAN’s 2024 response to the Draft ORE Future Framework Public Consultation here.
The plan-led approach must reflect a significant improvement in practice, prioritising nature restoration and following scientific advice to avoid detrimental effects on ecologically important areas in the marine area. The prioritisation of an ecosystems-based approach, per the Maritime Area Planning Act, is a must, with environmental factors at the centre of decision-making.
We must see the parallel processes of MPA designation and ORE development (both of which have ambitious targets to meet by 2030) prioritise marine recovery.
What needs to happen?
SWAN supports the Offshore Renewably Energy Policy Position published by our coalition partners Fair Seas, which covers six main issues:
- The role of ORE in addressing climate change
Emphasising the importance of renewable energy in tackling the climate crisis, but not at the expense of important habitats and wildlife. We recognise the links between the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
- National Marine Planning Framework and the ecosystem-based approach
Locating ORE developments through an ecosystem-based approach to marine spatial planning, with environmental factors at the core of decision-making.
- Marine Protected Areas and planning decision making
The impact of ORE developments on the health and condition of MPAs must be a key consideration in site selection.
- ORE infrastructure and compatibility with protected areas
Co-location of ORE within protected areas should be avoided and not seen as a default option.
- Other effective area-based conservation measures
Acknowledging benefits to biodiversity and ecosystems brought about by ORE development, though not designated as MPAs.
- Precautionary Principle
All environmental decision making should be based on the best available evidence, but when good evidence is lacking, decisions to protect the environment should not be delayed, but taken using the precautionary principle and approach.
The designation of sites for offshore renewable energy must be underpinned by robust biodiversity data and must not undermine our obligations under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Sites must prove no negative impact to the surrounding environment or that the effects are sufficiently minimised through appropriate location, design and effective mitigation practices. Through well-planned, transparent processes and stakeholders working together, we can achieve ambitious climate and energy targets while protecting and restoring our marine and coastal environments, tackling both the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
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