Maritime Area Consent application submitted for Arklow Bank Wind Park project

SSE Renewables has submitted an application to the Irish Government for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) for Phase 2 of its Arklow Bank Wind Park offshore wind energy project. The MAC application has been made via Ireland’s recently introduced marine planning process announced in April 2022 by Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD.

Phase 2 of Arklow Bank Wind Park will be located in an area situated six to 13km off the Co. Wicklow coastline, to the east of Arklow. The development, which builds on the existing GE-owned seven turbines that comprise the operational first phase of the wind park, is targeting delivery of up to 800MW of installed offshore wind energy under the Irish Government’s new Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act process.

The MAC application being submitted is the next step forward in plans by SSE Renewables to progress this important offshore wind energy project for Ireland. It follows the landmark decision earlier this week by An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the onshore grid infrastructure necessary to connect the 800MW Phase 2 of Arklow Bank to Ireland’s electricity transmission grid.

The submission of a MAC application means the Arklow Bank project will now progress through the new marine planning regime alongside other qualified offshore renewable energy projects in the Irish Sea and off the west coast of Ireland.

If SSE Renewables successfully secures a Maritime Area Consent from the Government, it can then apply to Ireland’s planning board, An Bord Pleanála, for permission to build out the project’s next phase. This future planning application would include detailed proposals for the offshore infrastructure required, including offshore wind turbines, offshore substation platforms, and subsea cables, as well as an accompanying Environmental Impact Assessment for the wind park’s offshore infrastructure. SSE Renewables intends to commence a draft of this Environmental Impact Assessment later this year as part of the project’s ongoing development.

The Arklow Bank proposal also envisages the development of a dedicated operations and maintenance base located at Arklow Harbour’s South Dock, where 80 people will be employed to support the wind park over its operational lifetime. This element of the project is subject to a separate planning application, currently before Wicklow County Council for consideration.

The offshore wind energy that can be generated at Arklow Bank would have the potential to power almost 850,000 homes each year and offset around 830 billion kilos of harmful carbon emissions annually – contributing significantly to Ireland’s climate action target of at least 5GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, to Ireland’s security of energy supply, and to the national and local economy.

The offshore wind energy project is expected to require an investment of up to €2.5 billion and, under current planning timelines, is expected to deliver first power in 2028 and completion in 2029, subject to a final investment decision. Once operational the wind farm will also deliver a multi-million-euro annual community fund.

Earlier this week by An Bord Pleanála made Irish planning history by granting permission to SSE Renewables to develop onshore grid infrastructure for Arklow Bank Wind Park including a substation development at the Avoca River Business Park. That decision means SSE Renewables has become the first renewable energy company to ever secure planning permission to develop onshore transmission grid infrastructure for an Irish offshore wind farm.

834,000 homes powered based on projected installed capacity, typical projected offshore wind load factor of 50%, and typical annual consumption (4,200kWh). Quoted 830 billion kilos of carbon emissions abated based on projected annual MWh output and latest average CO2 Emissions (0.236g/kWh) in the All-Island Single Electricity Market, and published by the CRU in its Fuel Mix Disclosure and CO2 Emissions for 2020, October 2021.