The developers of 1300MW Codling Wind Park, Ireland’s largest Phase 1 offshore renewable energy project, will submit its planning application to An Bord Pleanala early next week.
The project is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables.
They said the application marks a significant milestone not just for Codling Wind Park but for the development of Ireland’s offshore renewable sector and national climate policy.
The project will be able to supply over one million Irish homes with clean renewable energy.
It will be located between 13km to 22km off the Wicklow coast and will connect to the Irish grid at Poolbeg in Dublin.
The project will also reduce Irish energy generation emissions and displace over 1.7 million tonnes of carbon.
The scheme accounts for just over one quarter of Ireland’s entire 2030 target for grid connected offshore energy.
Project director of Codling Wind Park Scott Sutherland said the application was the product of over 15 years of data gathering and site investigations, both onshore and offshore, which included geophysical, aerial and vessel-based surveys.
He added: “This is a big moment for climate action, for Irish energy independence and for the local communities who will share in the benefits of the project.
“This is one of the largest energy infrastructure investments ever seen in Ireland and a tremendously exciting project to work on.
“We are very confident in our application which is informed by detailed surveys, studies and assessments of the local environment and consultation with stakeholders, which aligns with the highest Irish and international standards of environmental assessment and planning.
“The project that is being put forward for planning strikes the right balance between environmental considerations and technical feasibility, as well as different environmental constraints.
“The application takes a conservative and comprehensive account of a broad range of considerations including the local seabed and tidal conditions, visual landscapes and seascapes, geology, archaeology, marine life, ornithology and protected sites.
“The application is the culmination of years of hard work by the project team and we look forward to progressing it through the planning system, and then delivering the full range of economic and environmental benefits that the project will bring for Ireland, for climate change and for people locally.”
Upon receiving a positive planning outcome, the scheme would move forward to construction and start generating power by 2030.
The project is predicted to create over 1000 jobs during construction and approximately 75 long term operations and maintenance roles.
Earlier this year the project announced a further 25% reduction in the number of wind turbines which would be required to deliver the project.
While the original estimate for the number of turbines required was 420, this was later reduced to 100.
In April the project confirmed that the maximum number of machines would be 75.
The Codling Wind Park team said the project design was informed by advances in technology and an extensive public consultation and engagement process which has been conducted over the last two years.
Subject to planning permission and all other necessary permits and consents being received, the site could begin construction in 2026-27, with work expected to take two to three years.