ORESS 2 - Consultation process launched for next phase of offshore renewable auctions

The ORESS 2 consultation process will seek the views of stakeholders on key design principles to help ensure ORESS 2 auctions are attractive to the offshore wind industry, deliver a route to market for significant amounts of clean renewable energy, and ensure value for money for electricity consumers. ORESS 2 auctions will be geographically aligned with available onshore grid capacity. Its first auction, ‘ORESS 2.1’, will see the development of offshore wind within an offshore renewable energy ‘designated Area’ - the South Coast DMAP. The consultation will run until Friday 25 August 2023, and it is expected that ORESS 2.1 will launch before the end of this year or early next year.

Minister Ryan pointed out:

"ORESS 2 is another hugely important step towards achieving our aim of delivering sustainable electricity for homes and businesses throughout Ireland. The success of our first offshore wind auction earlier this year (ORESS 1) highlighted Ireland’s enormous potential in the offshore renewables space. Both The South Coast DMAP Proposal and the ORESS 2 consultation process are important elements of our wider offshore renewables plan. As well as helping to meet our climate goals, these processes, along with subsequent offshore development, will have a transformational impact on regional communities and on sustainable jobs creation."

Consultation on ORESS Auction Design

Consultation is open

'Accelerating Ireland’s Offshore Energy Programme - Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase Two Offshore Wind’ (March 2023) established the Government’s policy for accelerating offshore wind deployment in Ireland via a plan-led system. The Statement also established the basis for offshore wind auctions under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme in Phase Two (ORESS 2).

We are developing terms and conditions for offshore wind auctions under ORESS 2, planned to take place over the next two years, that will help us deliver on the Government’s Phase 2 Policy.

The aim of this consultation is to gather stakeholder feedback on aspects of auction design to help ensure ORESS 2 auctions are attractive to the offshore wind industry, deliver a route to market for significant amounts of clean renewable energy and ensure value for money for electricity consumers.

Click here to view the ORESS 2 Consultation Document

The closing date for submissions is 5.30pm on Friday, 25 August 2023.

Submissions should be sent by email only to oress@decc.gov.ie with the subject line 'ORESS 2 Consultation'.