Codling Wind Park launches second round of public consultation

• Wicklow project reduces number of wind turbines from 140 to maximum of 100
• Poolbeg confirmed as electricity grid connection location
• Maximum generating capacity of project will be 1,450MW
• Critical energy infrastructure project can deliver over 20% of Ireland’s renewable energy targets by 2030

Ireland’s largest Phase One^[1] offshore wind project, Codling Wind Park, which will be located off the County Wicklow coast, will require almost 30% fewer wind turbines than originally proposed. Notwithstanding this significant reduction in wind turbines, the development will still generate enough renewable electricity to meet over 20% of Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets.

While the initial estimate for the number of turbines required had been put at a maximum of 140, the project team says advances in wind turbine technology, combined with a more detailed understanding of the wind farm site, means a maximum of 100 turbines – almost a third less – will now be required.

It has also been confirmed, by EirGrid, that Poolbeg in Ringsend will be the location of the project’s electricity grid connection with 1,450MW – enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million Irish homes – confirmed as the maximum amount of electricity it will generate. The project had previously indicated that it hoped to generate between 900MW and 1,500MW.

Codling Wind Park is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables and will be located approximately 13 to 22 kilometres off the Co. Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town.

New details about the project were announced ahead of the second round of public consultation, which is taking place from the 11^th of January to the 8^th of February. The consultation will include a number of face-to-face exhibitions in Wicklow and Poolbeg, together with an online virtual exhibition and a series of dedicated information clinics.

The consultation process will provide further details on various onshore and offshore environmental, technical and feasibility surveys being carried out as part of the project. Feedback gathered from the public as part of this consultation process will feed into the ongoing development of the project, and updated proposals will be presented at a third phase of public consultation later this year.

Co-Project Director Scott Sutherland said everyone at Codling Wind Park was looking forward to the consultation and the opportunity to engage with, and hear from, local communities and other stakeholders.

“We have made significant progress since our first phase of public consultation in March 2021 and we are looking forward to updating people, in Wicklow and Poolbeg in particular, and receiving their thoughts and feedback on a range of topics, including the design of the project, the Environmental Impact Assessment we are working on, the best way we can deliver benefits to local communities through the Community Benefit Fund over the next 20 years and how best we can continue to engage with the fishing and sailing communities.”

Codling Wind Park was recently awarded a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Together with the grid connection agreement it has received from EirGrid, this enables the project to participate in the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Scheme (ORESS) auction in the coming months. If successful, the project will then submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála later this year.

Mr Sutherland said this first auction will be a seminal moment for Ireland’s offshore wind industry.

“We are excited not only to deliver one of the largest energy infrastructure investments ever seen in Ireland, but to also help the country realise its enormous potential and become a world leader in offshore wind. Our total focus now is on progressing the Codling Wind Park project through the ORESS auction and into planning. The awarding of a MAC and the confirmation of our grid location and capacity were key steps in that process.

“On its own, Codling Wind Park can help Ireland deliver over 20% of the country’s 7GW renewable energy target by 2030. This demonstrates the importance of this project – and the other Phase 1 projects – in supporting the country’s future energy security and in helping Ireland achieve its target of generating 80% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030,” he said.

When developed, Codling Wind Park will be Ireland’s largest offshore wind farm. The project is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in the construction phase and 75 new, long-term jobs associated with its proposed Operations and Maintenance Base at Wicklow Port.

Subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2026, and is expected to take two to three years to complete.

To find out more about Codling Wind Park and the public consultation process which is taking place from January 11^th to February 8^th please visit www.codlingwindpark.ie.

Ends

Contact Information:

Kieran Garry

GPR Communications

Mobile: +353 87 2368366

Email:    kierangarry@gprcomms.com

^[1] In May 2020 the Government designated six offshore wind projects which had been in development for some time as ‘Relevant Projects’ in the context of the Maritime Area Planning Bill which was then being developed and is now enacted. These projects – including Codling Wind Park – are now called Phase One projects and will be prioritised through the new offshore consenting, grid and ORESS regimes in order to contribute to the delivery the Government target of 7GW of offshore wind by 2030.