Ireland’s oldest port has lodged a planning application for its Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Capable Terminal at Belview, County Kilkenny.
The Port of Waterford has submitted the application to national planning body An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The application follows the recent granting of Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), which provides the legal basis for the port to seek permission to develop the new infrastructure.
Securing the MAC was a key step in advancing the South-East as a hub for offshore wind, and it now allows the port to progress its vision of building a purpose-designed ORE terminal.
Central to the project is a 250-metre extension to the existing wharves at Belview. The application also provides for land reclamation, new quayside operator support facilities with workshops and warehouses, berthing pontoons, and two separate three-storey office and staff buildings for ORE operators.
The development includes a replacement electricity substation, underground services, roof-mounted solar PV arrays to generate renewable power on site, and a dedicated biodiversity enhancement area of approximately 1.8 hectares.
The port said the investment will transform its capacity to support large-scale offshore renewable energy projects, such as the proposed Tonn Nua offshore wind farm and future projects across the Celtic Sea.
With Ireland committed to generating 7GW of offshore wind by 2030, the ORE Capable Terminal at Waterford is designed to support this target and beyond.
The project is expected to generate high-quality jobs across maritime operations, engineering, logistics, and green technology, while also creating opportunities for SMEs and local suppliers to integrate into the offshore wind supply chain.
Port of Waterford’s chief executive David Sinnott said: “This is a landmark day for Port of Waterford. Our application is about more than new infrastructure – it’s about creating jobs, driving growth in the South-East, and helping Ireland meet its 2030 climate goals.
“Waterford has been a maritime gateway for over a thousand years, and now we are ready to lead Ireland into its offshore renewable future.”