WEI Q3 Policy Forum & BBQ: Connecting on Ireland’s Offshore Wind Future

Wind Energy Ireland’s Q3 Policy Forum brought WEI members together this September in Cork for an engaging and productive afternoon focused on the future of offshore wind delivery in Ireland. Four months on from the publication of our Offshore Wind Action Plan, this session provided the opportunity to reflect on the progress already made, and to examine where further effort is needed as we work towards Ireland’s ambitious renewable energy targets.

The Policy Forum, kindly sponsored by Green Tech Skillnet, created space for members to align on key issues, share insights, and engage directly with stakeholders across government, the grid, and industry. Presentations from leaders including Peter Lefroy (RWE & WEI Offshore Committee Chair), Damien Clarke (DCEE), David Noronha (EirGrid), and Tim Murphy (Port of Cork) sparked thoughtful discussion on the South Coast DMAP, the national DMAP process, grid capacity, supply chain certainty, infrastructure requirements and future market opportunities.

The roundtable sessions brought members together to share perspectives, align on challenges, and explore solutions for the future of offshore wind development. The constructive atmosphere and open dialogue underscored the value of bringing our community together to share expertise.

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, closed things off on an optimistic note, reflecting at how far we have come as an industry and the major milestones we will hit over the next 12 months. He also recommended two resources to help frame our collective thinking. The first was Ember’s recently released slidedeck, The Electrotech Revolution, which highlights the powerful economic and technological forces that make the energy transition a matter of when, not if. The second was Michael Liebreich’s articles on The Pragmatic Climate Reset, offering a thought-provoking perspective on how the clean energy transition can be accelerated while remaining grounded in practical realities.

Following the formal programme, members gathered for our Member Connect BBQ and drinks reception, which proved to be a highlight of the day. The informal setting provided an excellent opportunity to build new relationships, strengthen existing connections, and continue conversations sparked during the Forum.

Wind Energy Ireland would like to thank all of our members, speakers, and in particular Green Tech Skillnet for their support in making this event possible. By continuing to collaborate and strengthen connections across the sector, we can keep momentum behind Ireland’s progress towards a clean and secure energy system.

Policy Forum and Member Connect events are open to all WEI members. Keep your eye out for our next policy forum in December!