Local Independent Deputy, Denis Naughten, has pointed out that the recently published Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021, set to be debated in Dáil Éireann this autumn, will allow the country to generate enough electricity to not only meet Ireland’s needs but also the electricity needs of France and Austria as well.
“Ireland has a sea area of 900,000 square kilometres, 10 times as big as our island, so as a country we are far more blue than green. As a result, we have some of the best offshore renewable energy resources in the world but at present there is no structured mechanism to plan for its management or development
“One of the big untapped opportunities we have off our coast is renewable electricity in terms of wave and wind energy and with the proper development of this resource Ireland could become one of the world’s biggest exporters of clean energy.
“This is probably the most significant law this Dáil will consider over its lifetime and has the potential, if developed properly, to make Ireland a global leader in offshore renewable energy,” Deputy Naughten stated.
