Codling Wind Park will contribute over 26pc of the national target for offshore wind power
The huge wind farm, which will be based between 13km and 22km off the coast between the towns of Greystones and Wicklow, is a 50-50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind.
The proposed generating capacity of 1,300 MW is said to be enough to power over one million homes and will connect to the Irish grid at Poolbeg in Dublin.
‘This is one of the largest energy infrastructure investments ever seen in Ireland’
The owners say that, depending on planning, the wind farm will be operational by 2030 – and will contribute over 26pc of the national target for offshore wind power.
The overall size of the scheme was scaled back earlier this year to reduce the number of turbines without cutting capacity. While the original estimate had been for a farm with as many as 440 turbines, advances in technology mean a similar output can now be achieved from a maximum of 75 turbines – and it may eventually be as few as 60.
Announcing the project’s final design and layout, the developers said the minimum proposed turbine tip height had been set at 288 metres with the maximum at 314 metres.
Project director of Codling Wind Park Scott Sutherland said the application was the product of over 15 years of data gathering and site investigations.
“This is one of the largest energy infrastructure investments ever seen in Ireland and a tremendously exciting project to work on,” he said.
The project will create 1,000 jobs during construction, and then 75 long-term jobs
“We are very confident in our application which is informed by detailed surveys, studies and assessments of the local environment and consultation with stakeholders. It aligns with the highest Irish and international standards of environmental assessment and planning.”
A planning notice will be published in local papers in Wicklow and Dublin, and nationally over the coming days starting on Friday.
The application follows a number of rounds of consultation.
With planning and other consents, construction of the wind farm could begin in 2026-27 and is expected to take two to three years to complete.
The project is predicted to create over 1,000 jobs during construction, and then 75 long-term jobs in operation and maintenance roles.
The developers say a community benefit fund of up to €200m will become available to support local projects only after the project receives planning permission and construction begins.