Environment minister Eamon Ryan has issued Maritime Area Consents to the first phase of seven offshore renewable energy projects.

The award of MACs enables the projects to begin their pre-planning application engagement with An Bord Pleanála and to participate in ORESS 1, the first auction for offshore wind under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme.

The first batch of MAC consents relate to seven ‘Phase One’ projects:
- Oriel Wind Park
- Arklow Bank II
- Bray Bank
- Kish Bank
- North Irish Sea Array
- Codling Wind Park (Codling I and Codling II)
- Skerd Rocks

Projects which have been granted a MAC will be required to apply for development permission and secure a route to market within set timeframes.

Minister Ryan commented: “This is a significant milestone on the pathway to decarbonising our energy supply and securing energy independence.

In Association with

"These first Maritime Area Consents have been carefully drafted to promote the speedy and efficient deployment of offshore renewable energy, while ultimately protecting the state’s rich and unique maritime resource, in line with the principles of the national marine planning framework."

The consents regime is provided for under the Maritime Area Planning Act 2021.

The legislation provides for the establishment of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

MARA is still not up and running though progress is promised in 2023. Ryan said that MARA will assume responsibility for any MACs granted by his department.

Only one small offshore windfarm – a 25MW (megawatt) offshore wind farm generating electrical power in the Wicklow region – has been constructed under the old foreshore regime prior to the enactment of the MAP Act.