Iarnrod Eireann will lodge a planning application next week for the €220m Rosslare Offshore Renewable Energy Hub in Co. Wexford.
The project will create 2000 long-term jobs and transform Rosslare Europort into Ireland’s primary base for construction, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms in the Irish and Celtic Seas, the company said.
The hub will have capacity to support the installation of about 0.5GW to 1GW of offshore wind each year, it added.
Subject to planning and funding, construction is scheduled to start in early 2027 with delivery targeted for early 2029.
Spanning 80 hectares, the development includes two heavy lift berths, storage, marshalling and assembly areas, a 64-berth small boat harbour, access roads, utilities and facilities for local marine users.
The works comprise 50 hectares of dredging and 32 hectares of land reclamation, including 19.7 hectares of new port lands.
“The Rosslare ORE Hub marks a once in a generation investment in Ireland’s clean energy future,” said Mary Considine, chief executive of Iarnrod Eireann.
“Lodging planning for Rosslare’s ORE Hub is a significant milestone in the development of this critical piece of infrastructure,” added Glenn Carr, director commercial business units with Iarnrod Eireann.
The project has been co-funded to planning stage by the EU Connecting Europe Facility.