The Project Director of Codling Wind Park, Ireland’s largest Phase 1 offshore wind farm, has said the project is on track to deliver 1.3GW of clean renewable energy.
In a presentation to the French and Norwegian ambassadors, Scott Sutherland pointed out that the 1.3GWs of energy which Codling will deliver into the Irish grid – enough to power 1.2 million Irish homes, nearly half of all Irish dwellings – will generate significant benefits for the Irish economy and environment.
When fully consented, Codling Wind Park, which is a joint venture between French company EDF Power Solutions and Norwegian firm Fred.Olsen Seawind, will be located between 13 and 22Kms off the Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. The project will account for just over one quarter of Ireland’s entire 20230 target for grid-connected offshore energy.
Once in construction, the project’s community benefit fund, one of the biggest in the world, will see up to €200 million distributed to community clubs, projects and initiatives near the project.
Codling Wind Park submitted its planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála just over a year ago, and Mr Sutherland confirmed that it received a Request for Further Information (RFI) in early August on certain topics relevant to the environmental documentation submitted with the planning application.
He said the project team was working through the request and would be collating its response to it in the coming months. He also confirmed that the project was progressing a range of procurement, grid and land development matters through engagement with key local and national stakeholders.
Mr Sutherland made his comments during a project briefing to the French and Norwegian ambassadors to Ireland.
The French ambassador, Céline Place, said the Codling Wind Project is a strategic project for Ireland and for European energy sovereignty.
“It is a great example of European partnership, at the EU level and beyond. EDF has proved its expertise in such projects in France and globally: I am proud to see our best companies being committed in Ireland, with almost 10% of Irish energy capacity built with the support of French companies. French Irish energy infrastructure cooperation is often viewed as being limited to the Celtic Interconnector, but it is already alive today,” she said.
The Norwegian Ambassador to Ireland, Aslak Brun, said, “I am delighted to see once again how central Norwegian companies are in Ireland’s energy transition. Fred. Olsen’s partnership with EDF in Codling will prove a cornerstone in Ireland’s offshore wind development.”
Mr Sutherland thanked both ambassadors for their keen interest in the project and their strong support for it.
For more information about Codling Wind Park, go to www.codlingwindpark.ie
About Codling Wind Park
Codling Wind Park is a proposed offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea, approximately 13-22 kilometres off the County Wicklow coast, between Greystones and Wicklow Town. The project is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Power Solutions and Fred. Olsen Seawind. With an expected capacity of up to 1,300 megawatts (MW), Codling Wind Park has the potential to supply over one million Irish homes with low-carbon, locally produced, low-cost electricity and to save almost 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year. The project submitted its planning application in September 2024.