SSE Renewables has welcomes the publication today by the Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Damien English, T.D, and the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Richard Bruton, T.D. of those seven offshore renewable energy projects in the Irish Sea that can progress forward to apply for consent under the proposed new marine planning regime.
Barry Kilcline, Director of Development for SSE Renewables, said: “This is a significant step forward for Ireland’s emerging offshore wind energy sector as it will allow those projects, some of which are seeking to update aspects of their current developments, to transition to the new planning arrangements as envisioned through the introduction of the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, 2020.
“SSE Renewables is continuing to develop Phase 2 of the Arklow Bank Wind Park project, which has a consent under the existing Foreshore Act to deliver 520MW of offshore wind energy. As we are not envisaging material planning amendments to our existing consent, we have not applied to have Arklow Bank designated as a Relevant Project. Instead, we intend to continue to proceed with our development plans for our exciting project under the existing Foreshore legislation, and we will continue to work with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government in this regard.
“Arklow Bank Wind Park has also been confirmed by the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities as being eligible to be processed to receive a grid connection offer, and we are continuing to work with EirGrid as it progresses the grid connection application for the Arklow Bank project.
“As a result, the Arklow Bank Wind Park project is significantly progressed and is targeting a delivery date of 2025, thereby playing a crucial role in meeting the Government’s interim target of 1GW of offshore wind capacity in that same year as set out in the Climate Action Plan and delivering a 1% reduction in Ireland’s annual carbon emissions.
“Delivery of Arklow Bank alongside the delivery of those projects published today, will ensure we remain on course to meet Ireland’s overall ambition to reach 70% renewable energy by 2030.”