The project – a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables – marks a significant milestone not just for Codling Wind Park but for the development of Ireland's offshore renewable sector and national climate policy.
Codling Wind Park will have a capacity of up to 1,300 megawatts (MW) and will be able to supply over 1 million Irish homes with clean renewable energy. It will be located between 13 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 project alone 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 fifteen years of data gathering and site investigations, both onshore and offshore, which included geophysical, aerial and vessel-based surveys.
Sutherland continued: "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.
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"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, Codling Wind Park would move forward to construction and start generating power by 2030. The project is predicted to create over 1,000 jobs during construction and approximately 75 long term operations and maintenance roles.
Earlier this year the project announced a further c. 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 turbines would be 75.
Codling Wind Park 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, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2026-27. Construction is expected to take two to three years to complete. Key elements of the design are outlined in the Notes to Editor.
Codling Wind Park recently completed a third series of community exhibitions, engaging with local people and elected representatives, while providing news and information on the project. The engagement programme included events, exhibitions and dedicated information clinics across a two-month period earlier in the summer in Wicklow, Greystones and Sandymount.
The project will also establish a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) worth up to €200m to fund local community-based projects. The aim of the fund is to share the benefits of the development with local communities and deliver economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits to local people and organisations over a twenty-year period. The Fund, one of the biggest anywhere in the world, will not become available until after the project has received planning and begun construction.
The full application can be viewed online at www.codlingwindparkplanningapplication.ie
