- Application coincides with management changes, as partners highlight strategic importance of Irish market
Monday 27th June 2022: Ireland’s largest Phase One offshore wind project, Codling Wind Park, has taken another significant step forward, with the submission of its application for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) to the Irish Government.
The MAC is a new regulatory requirement for marine-based projects, which came into effect following the enactment of the Maritime Area Planning Act in December 2021. If Codling Wind Park’s application is successful, it will allow the project to compete in the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Scheme (ORESS) auction, which is due to open later this year, and to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála.
The project has also announced changes to its management team, with the partners – EDF Renewables and Fred. Olsen Seawind – becoming more directly involved in the day-to-day running of what is a strategically important project for both companies.
Thomas Gellert, currently Senior VP Project Execution at Fred. Olsen Seawind, and Scott Sutherland, Head of Offshore Wind at EDF Renewables, have been appointed as co-project directors, bringing a combined almost 30 years experience in the execution and delivery of industry-leading offshore wind projects. They will take up their joint leadership role straight away, with former director Arno Verbeek continuing as a senior advisor to the partners.
Commenting on their appointment, the new project directors emphasised the strategic importance of Ireland to both companies and said their focus was on maintaining the project’s momentum.
Thomas Gellert commented: “Ireland is a hugely important market for Fred. Olsen Seawind and Codling Wind Park is our flagship project. I am excited to be joining such a successful team and look forward to not only delivering one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade but to helping the country realise its potential and become a world leader in offshore wind.”
Scott Sutherland added: “EDF Renewables is already very active in Ireland, across onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage. It is a strategically important market, to which we are fully committed. Our total focus now is on progressing the Codling Wind Park project through the ORESS auction and into planning. The submission of our MAC application is another step in this process.”
Subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2025 and is expected to take two to three years to complete.
Codling Wind Park is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred. Olsen Seawind. With a maximum installed capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts, Codling Wind Park will play a significant role in helping Ireland to meet its 2030 climate action targets. It has the potential to provide enough renewable energy to power up to 1.2 million Irish homes and could save around 2 million tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
To find out more about Codling Wind Park, please visit www.codlingwindpark.ie.
For Further Information
Notes to Editors
About Codling Wind Park
Codling Wind Park is a proposed offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea, set in an area called Codling Bank, approximately 13-22 kilometres off the County Wicklow coast, between Greystones and Wicklow Town.
Codling Wind Park is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred. Olsen Seawind. With an expected capacity of up to 1,500 megawatts (MW), it has the potential to supply the equivalent of up to 1.2 million Irish homes – 70% of all Irish households – with low-carbon, locally-produced, low-cost electricity, and to save almost 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. Representing one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade, the project will deliver substantial benefits to the regional and national economy, including more than 1,000 construction jobs and around 75 long-term, locally based jobs. Further information is available at www.codlingwindpark.ie. Subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2025. Construction is expected to take two to three years to complete.
About EDF Renewables
EDF Renewables Ireland is part of one of the world’s largest electricity companies and our investment and innovation in renewable energy projects is reducing costs for consumers and bringing significant benefits to communities.
EDF Renewables Ireland’s team has a wealth of experience in bringing complex development projects to fruition, across onshore and offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage technology, and is supported by more than 300 colleagues in the UK.
In 2020 we acquired 50% of Codling Wind Park, a major offshore wind farm which will be located off the coast of Co. Wicklow, and 100% of Wexford Solar, which includes eight solar projects across Ireland. In total, we have an Irish onshore development pipeline of almost 1GW.
In the UK, EDF Renewables has an operating portfolio of 36 wind farms and two battery storage units (together totalling almost 1GW).
EDF Renewables operates in more than 20 countries around the world.
For further information visit www.edf-re.ie
About Fred. Olsen Seawind
Fred. Olsen Seawind AS is an established offshore wind developer building on Fred. Olsen Renewables’ 25 years wind track record, market presence and portfolio.
In 2021, the Fred. Olsen Renewables’ offshore wind assets and activity was organised within a distinct corporate structure in Fred. Olsen Seawind AS and is 100% controlled by Bonheur ASA.
Utilising the extensive experience in Scotland gained through over 25 years of development, construction, and operation of onshore wind Fred. Olsen Seawind is committed to progressing offshore wind projects in Ireland, Norway and Scotland and is exploring opportunities in new markets.
For further information visit www.fredolsenseawind.com