Energy company SSE will apply for permission from An Bord Pleanála to build offshore infrastructure required for its second windfarm, which is scheduled to be located on the Arklow Bank off the coast of County Wicklow.
The array will be constructed across a total area of 63 square kilometres along the Wicklow and Wexford beaches, extending from Courtown to the north of Wicklow town.
It is anticipated that the windfarm would have an 800MW capacity, which would be sufficient to power up to 850,000 houses annually.
James O'Hara, Arklow Bank Project Director at SSE Renewables, stated, “Our team of over 50 renewable energy professionals supported by a dedicated local supply chain has been working hard to deliver SSE's flagship Irish offshore windfarm - Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 - for almost seven years now.”
“In doing so, we’re fulfilling the pioneering vision of delivering commercial scale offshore wind at Arklow Bank which dates back almost 20 years to when the first seven turbines were installed at the site and became Ireland’s first and only operational offshore windfarm.”
“Now, we’re pleased to announce we’re submitting what we believe is a robust and compelling planning application to deliver a world class renewable energy asset at Arklow Bank using the very latest offshore technology that can generate the additional green energy Ireland needs to meet 2030 renewable energy targets in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner.”
According to the business, building on Arklow Bank 2 may start as early as 2026, with the first electricity produced by 2029, pending approval and a final investment decision.
Despite losing out on a supply contract in the State's first offshore wind auction last year, SSE is moving forward with the wind farm.
The business announced at the time that it would look into alternative channels to market.
Sure Partners Ltd., a fully owned subsidiary of FTSE 100 listed business SSE Plc under SSE Renewables, is submitting the Maritime Area Planning Application.
Planning permission has already been obtained by the business to establish an operations and maintenance base at Arklow Harbour.
Permission has also been granted for the construction of a substation and onshore cabling to link the project to the national grid.
According to the company's estimates, Arklow Bank 2 may provide up to €800 million in economic benefits for the entire country, of which about €400 million will come from inside the Wicklow and Wexford region.
It is anticipated that 2,300 direct and indirect employment would be supported during the project's delivery and operation.
According to SSE, each turbine will be erected on steel monopile foundations, and related sub-sea cabling for export, inter-array, and interconnector will be constructed on two offshore substation platforms.
At a cabling landing point at Johnstown North, which is located north of Arklow Town, this will link the wind farm to the grid.
However, several people, environmentalists, and the fishing community are concerned about the possible effects this, and other proposed windfarms may have on the Irish Sea ecology, as well as the visual impact.
Some people believe the wind farms are improperly located and should be farther out to sea.
According to SSE Renewables, An Bord Pleanála has received both a Natura Impact Statement and an Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the planned development.