Wind Energy Ireland response to Equinor leaving Irish market

Wind Energy Ireland has expressed its regret at Equinor’s decision to leave the Irish offshore wind market.

While Ireland’s offshore wind potential is enormous and there is a growing pipeline of projects, Equinor’s decision underlines what industry has been warning for some time about the slow pace of planning and regulatory reform.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said: “We are sorry to see one of the world’s leading energy companies pulling out of Ireland, but it is important to remember we still have some of the best offshore wind energy resources in the world and a growing pipeline of projects.

“We are confident we will deliver offshore wind energy in large volumes and get projects connected before the end of the decade.

“But this decision simply underlines what we have been saying for some time. We are not reforming Ireland’s planning and regulatory framework quickly enough to develop the offshore wind we will need to meet the targets in the Climate Action Plan.

“This is leading to a lack of confidence in the industry and our international supply chain that Government must address.”