Ireland is in danger of missing its binding EU renewable energy targets, according to the National Offshore Wind Association of Ireland.
Ireland is committed to supplying 40% of its energy for electricity from renewable sources by 2020, but NOW Ireland says that under current government policy, that will not be met.
NOW Ireland has warned that failing to meet the 2020 targets will not only lead to substantial fines but will also prevent export of green energy to Europe.
The government has identified Ireland's substantial offshore wind resources as a major asset for export.
However, NOW Ireland says that failure to achieve the 2020 targets for renewable energy generation would lead to a bar on Irish renewable energy generators exporting power under existing European Union rules.
This, it says, would cost the state many hundreds of millions of euro in revenue.
"Successive Governments have placed all their eggs in the basket of onshore wind. Other technologies, such as offshore wind, have been pushed towards the export route to market," Brian Britton, NOW Ireland Secretary General said.
"If the government’s narrow focus fails to deliver, Ireland will face significant fines and the offshore wind industry, which could deliver the entire renewable energy shortfall for Ireland, will be locked out of the export market as well as the home market."
