Ireland’s strategy for offshore renewable energy are among topics incorporated in an updated draft of Ireland’s national energy and climate plan for Europe, which has been opened for public consultation this week.
Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications Eamon Ryan said engagement with stakeholders was “central to its success” when he marked the opening of the new draft national energy and climate plan (NECP) to public consultation on Thursday (Feb 8).
All European Union (EU) member states, including Ireland, develop the so-called NECPs to outline progress towards their climate and energy objectives and targets under EU legislation.
The updated NECP covers the period from 2021 to 2030.
It focuses on the actions Ireland is taking to meet its EU 2030 targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions, renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity interconnection, as mandated by EU Regulations and Directives.
“While the NECP projections are based on 2021 implemented policies, in accordance with EU guidelines, I am conscious that this is not as ambitious as our own recent 2024 climate action plan,” Ryan said.
“Therefore, I encourage all stakeholders to be ambitious and to share their valuable feedback with us to help shape a robust response to our EU targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, renewable energy, energy efficiency and electricity interconnection,”he said.
“The final NECP will reflect most recent projections and our future ambition,” he said.
This consultation forms a key component of the NECP process, which will culminate with the submission of a final NECP to the European Commission in June 2024, Ryan’s department noted.
Ireland submitted its draft NECP to the Commission in 2023. The feedback from the Commission’s assessment of the draft, in addition to the feedback from the stakeholder consultation, will be reflected in the final NECP.
As the document evolves to incorporate these changes, along with the integration of Ireland’s new, more ambitious European targets and updated policies, it is anticipated that the final NECP will represent a substantially developed update to the draft which was submitted in December 2023, the department said.
It said further consultation will be carried out prior to the submission of the final NECP, to ensure that stakeholders are kept informed on the process and are given an opportunity to contribute to the shaping of this document.
Information on how to make a submission to the NECP consultation is here