EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind have entered a second round of public consultation with 30% fewer turbines than originally proposed for the now 1450MW Codling offshore wind farm off east Ireland.
The project team said advances in wind turbine technology, combined with a more detailed understanding of the wind farm site, means a maximum of 100 turbines 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 1450MW it will generate.
The project had previously indicated that it hoped to generate between 900MW and 1500MW.
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 County 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 11 January to 8 February.
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: “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.
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.