Ireland’s largest Phase One offshore wind project, Codling Wind Park, has confirmed a 25% reduction in the number of turbines required to deliver the project. The wind park will be located off the County Wicklow coast and was initially estimated to require around 100 turbines. However, announcing the details of the project’s final design and layout, the project has confirmed a maximum of 75 and a minimum of 60 turbines will now be required. The minimum proposed turbine tip height has also been set at 288 metres or a maximum of 314 metres.

Even though this is a significant reduction in the number of wind turbines, the development will still generate 1,300 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity, enough to power over one million homes, which accounts for almost half (48%) of all permanent dwellings in Ireland. Huge advances in wind turbine technology, and more efficient turbine models combined with a more detailed understanding of the wind farm site, means a reduction of 83% in the number of turbines required from the original estimate of around 440.

As Afloat reported earlier, the development team says it will give “exclusive updates” on its Irish Sea project at a three-day public event in Wicklow in mid-April.

The project, a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables, will be located approximately 13 to 22 kilometres off the Co. Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. When operational, it will help Ireland meet over 26% of its 2030 grid-connected offshore wind targets while also helping the country achieve its target of generating 80% of its electricity from renewable energy by the same year.

The new details about the project were announced ahead of a third and final series of public engagements, which will be taking place this month. The series will include a number of exhibitions and dedicated information clinics in Wicklow Library, at a pop-up shop in Greystones, and in Sandymount Community Centre. The exhibitions and information clinics will provide members of the public as well as public representatives with further details on the design and layout, as well as details on the various onshore and offshore environmental, technical, and feasibility surveys which have been carried out as part of the project. Virtual reality headsets will also be available to attendees, enabling them to view the project from a variety of perspectives.

Project Director Scott Sutherland said everyone at Codling Wind Park was looking forward to sharing details of the final design with members of the local communities and other stakeholders ahead of submitting the planning application for the project. As well as details of the turbine numbers and layout, a Community Benefit Fund (CBF) of up to €200m will be established as part of the project to fund local community-based projects. The aim of the fund, which will be administered by an experienced and independent Fund Administrator, as part of the Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme (ORESS), is to deliver economic, environmental, social, and cultural benefits to local community groups over a twenty-year period.

Codling Wind Park Project Director Scott Sutherland

Mr. Sutherland also urged community groups to consider what projects or initiatives they would like to benefit from the fund, adding that the €10m per year Fund, one of the biggest anywhere in the world, would not become available until after the project had received planning and begun construction. He stressed that the community would decide how the fund is spent and encouraged the community to start thinking about what they would like to see the fund being used for. 

Codling Wind Park's aim has always been to protect the environment and mitigate any potential impacts, as well as proactively enhancing it where possible. With the wind park's reduced number of turbines, it will deliver clean energy to the Irish grid, helping stabilize the cost of electricity for Irish consumers while also contributing to Ireland's ambitious target to become a world leader in offshore wind.

The Codling Wind Park development team says it will give “exclusive updates” on its Irish Sea project at a three-day public event in Wicklow in mid-April.

Those attending can “explore the final designs” of the wind park in the Irish Sea before the planning application is submitted, it says.

The wind park is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables in a sea area 13 to 22 kilometres off the Co Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow harbour

When operational, it will generate up to 1,450 megawatts (MW), said to be enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million homes and support Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets.

It also says it will give details on its community benefit fund, and how applications can be made.

And it invites participants to “immerse” themselves in a “vision” of Codling Wind Park using virtual reality.

The open days will take place on April 16th, 17th and 18th in Wicklow town library from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Department of Transport has been advised by Codling Wind Park Ltd that a geophysical survey will be conducted in the shallow sub-tidal area of South Dublin Bay and also around the Pigeon Park area in the River Liffey channel.

The project works will commence on or around Monday 14 August and will continue through to early September 2023, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Survey operations will be conducted by the AMS Panther (callsign 2EHC2). This vessel will be conducting geophysical surveys for several days which may extend in the event of poor weather conditions.

Throughout the survey operations, the vessel will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes as required under the COLREGS Rule 27(b). The vessel will be towing survey equipment and will be restricted in its ability to manoeuvre during survey operations. All other vessels within the vicinity are therefore requested to leave a wide berth.

Coordinates and a map of the survey areas as well as contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 50 of 2023, attached below.

EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind have welcomed Codling Wind Park’s success in Ireland’s first offshore wind energy auction.

Codling Wind Park is a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred. Olsen Seawind. With an expected capacity of up to 1,300 megawatts (MW), it has the potential to supply the equivalent of over one million Irish homes with low-carbon, locally produced, low-cost electricity, and to save almost 2 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Earlier today, EirGrid provisionally confirmed that Codling Wind Park’s bid under the Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS) has been successful, ahead of final auction results to be issued in mid-June.

Commenting on the successful bid, Codling Wind Park Co-Project Directors Scott Sutherland and Thomas Gellert said: “This is a great day in the fight against climate change, and for Ireland’s plans to become energy self-sufficient. With Codling Wind Park’s successful bid, Ireland’s largest Phase 1 offshore project of 1,300MW capacity, moves a considerable step closer to reality.”

“There is an immense wealth of low-carbon, potential power available in the seas around this country. Today’s successful auction results will increase confidence in Ireland’s ability to realise the opportunities of offshore energy. We look forward to working with the government, state agencies and most of all local communities to ensure that the significant benefits of Irish offshore energy can be delivered to the people of Ireland.”

Matthieu Hue, CEO of EDF Renewables UK and Ireland, welcomed the news as a positive step forward for the Irish offshore industry: “We’re delighted that Codling Wind Park has been successful with its ORESS bid. As the country’s largest Phase 1 offshore wind farm, Codling will be crucial to Ireland meeting its renewable energy targets and securing its energy supply.

“EDF Renewables is a major player in the global offshore wind market, and we’re committed to drawing on that international experience to support Ireland in capitalising on its immense offshore wind potential. Today’s announcement is an important step on that journey. Together with our joint venture partner we will build on this positive news and work closely with our project partners, the Irish Government, and other stakeholders to deliver on what will be one of the largest energy infrastructure investments in Ireland this decade.”

Lars Bender, CEO of Fred. Olsen Seawind commented: "We are very pleased with today's result, which proves the strong, experienced joint venture partnership and the good collaboration between the partners as well as with the supply chain. The success today is a significant testimony to all the hard work carried out by Codling Wind Park and the shareholder teams to reach this point. On behalf of the joint venture partners, we thank all involved and look forward to the journey ahead of us.

“As the largest offshore wind farm project in Ireland, considerable economic benefit will be brought to Ireland. We look forward to engaging further with local communities, government and supply chain in developing Ireland's offshore wind skills base and contributing towards Ireland succeeding in delivering on climate change targets."

Codling Wind Park is establishing a dedicated €500,000 Fisheries Fund to benefit the fishing industry operating within and around the Codling Bank area of the Irish Sea.

The €500,000 fund will have a €100,000 annual budget to support different initiatives for the next five years.

The fund will support opportunities for both inshore and offshore fishing by fishers associated with the Codling Wind Park. Fishers are being asked to bring forward their own ideas about how the fund should be used. The project’s Fishing Engagement Manager meets regularly with local fishers and will discuss the terms of reference and progress proposals for the fund directly with them.

In addition, to the fund Codling Wind Park also confirmed it will consider other ideas to support fishers, including helping establish a lobster hatchery. The lobster hatchery would involve raising and releasing young lobsters back into the Irish Sea to increase fishing opportunities in the area. The project is engaging with fishers on this proposal which would significantly support a sustainable and productive fishery in the area.

Teesside Offshore Wind Farm built by EDF Renewables

Codling Wind Park has also published a Fisheries Charter or code of practice, which will guide its engagement with fishers and its care of marine life on the Codling Bank. The Fisheries Charter, which will be the first code of its type between an offshore wind developer and fishers in Ireland, commits Codling Wind Park to a range of sustainable development practices and responsible stewardship of the waters and seabed on the Codling Bank.

Speaking at the announcement of the Fisheries Fund and Charter, Co-Project Director of Codling Wind Park Scott Sutherland said: “The purpose of this fund is to support initiatives that could be of benefit to fishing communities, rather than benefitting one individual fisher over another. For example, adding value to a fishery, improving port infrastructure, improving safety, or exploring innovation and fishery diversification.”

“This €500,000 fund will help support the fishing industry and long-term sustainable fishing on the Codling Bank. We want to work with the fishers in the area to develop the terms of reference for this fisheries fund to ensure the funds generate maximum benefit for the fishing industry into the future. We want to hear from the fishers about what they think this fund should be used for.”

Also speaking at the announcement, Co-Project Director Thomas Gellert said: “We are making a commitment to the fishers who use Codling Bank that we want to help them build a sustainable future. We have been engaging with fishers for a long time now on a wide variety of issues. One of the key benefits of this engagement is that we have been able to share with each other our different perspectives and see how the development can and will co-exist with the fishery. We are also very proud to be the first developer in Ireland to publish a Fisheries Charter which commits the project to engage fairly with fishers, to boosting marine biodiversity and to developing sustainable fishing practices.”

Codling Wind Park, which is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables, will be located approximately 13 to 22 kilometres off the Co. Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town. When operational, it will generate up to 1,450 megawatts (MW), enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million homes and support Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets. The renewable energy project is also examining design options to support biodiversity across the Codling bank. The final design is being completed and will be presented to the public later in the year ahead of the project’s planning application.

To submit an idea or proposal for the €500,000 Fisheries Fund, contact: Fisheries Engagement Manager Courtney French - [email protected]

Link to Charter - https://codlingwindpark.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Codling-Fishers-Charter_-2023_04_28-11am.pdf.

Geotechnical site investigations will be conducted on the Codling Wind Park project site off the coast of Co Wicklow from early next month.

Project works will commence on Monday 8 May and continue through to late July, subject to weather and operational constraints.

The Codling Wind Park is an offshore wind energy project on the Codling Bank some 13km off the East Coast of Ireland. The geotechnical investigation (including boreholes and cone penetration tests) is intended to take place at 15 different locations within the project work site.

Operations will be conducted by the Dutch Pearl (callsign PBZP), a support vessel/tug, and the Excalibur (callsign YJKQ5), a jack-up barge, both of which are engaged in site investigations at the Kish and Bray banks this month.

The Excalibur will be positioned at each of the investigation points for several days which may extend in the event of inclement weather. The Dutch Pearl will be assisting the Excalibur in its daily operations and towing the barge between investigation points. The standby tug will be at anchor on the project site and will be conducting transits between the site and Dublin Port.

Both vessels will display the relevant light and shapes as required under COLREGS. Both vessels will keep continuous watch on VHF Channels 16 and 72. During operations, the vessels will be restricted in their ability to manoeuvre. All other vessels are requested to leave a wide berth during the operations.

Contact details, a map and coordinates of the survey area can be found in Marine Notice No 28 of 2023, attached below.

Several offshore windfarm companies which have secured maritime area consents from the Government are holding further public consultations on their plans.

The maritime area consents (MACs) were recently awarded by Minister for Environment Eamon Ryan, and permit the projects to apply for planning permission under the new Maritime Area Planning Act from An Bord Pleanála.

Two separate projects, the Codling Wind Park, and the Oriel wind farm project have announced second-phase public consultation dates.

Codling Wind Park confirmed it has reduced the number of turbines it proposes to use by almost 30%, from up to 140 previously to no more than 100.

“ Even with this reduction in turbines, we will still have a maximum export capacity (the maximum amount of electricity we can export to the Irish grid) of 1,450MW, which is very close to the upper end of the 900 to 1,500MW range which we had previously provided,” the company says in a statement.

“This means that Codling Wind Park will have the capacity to generate enough renewable electricity to meet over 20% of Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets,”it says.

It also says Dublin’s Poolbeg has been confirmed as the location at which Codling will connect to the Irish electricity transmission system.

Codling Wind Park is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables. If approved, it will be located approximately 13 to 22 kilometres off the coast between Greystones and Wicklow town.

Codling’s first phase consultation last year was confined to online only due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

A virtual online exhibition runs for four weeks, until February 8th, as part of its second phase consultation opening this week, and is accessible on www.codlingwindpark.ie.

It includes photomontages of the turbines (using two different potential layouts) from ten viewing points along the east coast, as well as photomontages of its proposed onshore substation at Poolbeg.

Face-to-face exhibitions will be held by Codling Wind Park at four different locations in the coming weeks:

• Wednesday, January 18th: Kilcoole Community Centre, 18:30-21:30
• Thursday, January 19th: Bridge Tavern, Wicklow Town, 09:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00
• Tuesday, January 24th: Greystones Sailing Club, 09:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00
• Wednesday, January 25th: Clanna Gael Fontenoy GAA Club, Ringsend, 09:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:00

It says that ten hours of information clinics will be available to the public between January 26th and February 4th, allowing people to meet with members of the project team after they have had a chance to view the exhibition materials.

“These are by appointment only and bookings can be made via the project website or by calling Codling Wind Park Community Liaison Officer, Gráinne Fennell, on 087 1011473”, it says.

“In addition to sharing details of our updated project proposals, it is also very important to us to receive feedback, to continue to inform our project development work ahead of the submission of our development consent application in the second half of this year,” it says.

Separately, Oriel Windfarm is holding another series of public consultation events in January and February to seek the views of local stakeholders in relation to the project, in advance of a planning application being submitted later this year, it says.

Oriel, which is being developed by Belgian green energy company Parkwind and ESB, is to be located off the coast of Co Louth, to the east of Dundalk Bay.

The proposed wind farm will have a generation capacity of up to 375 megawatts (MW), which is enough electricity to power about 300,000 homes.

Garrett Connell, Parkwind Country Manager, said that the project “has been designed to fit within available electricity transmission infrastructure and will connect into existing power lines near Ardee, via a new underground cable from the shore”.

“This will enable a significant reduction in Ireland’s carbon emissions and our reliance on imported fossil fuels, in an efficient way,” he says.

During January and February, Oriel says it will hold a combination of in-person and virtual events at which its representatives will outline the details of the project, address the questions that were raised during previous consultation events, and engage directly with the local community.

The details of the various Oriel events are as follows:

• Jan 11 Virtual Exhibition Opens Online www.orielwindfarm.ie
• Jan 19 Public webinar Online www.orielwindfarm.ie
• Jan 24-25 Public Consultation Dundalk DKIT – Carrolls Building
• Jan 31 Public Consultation Ardee Brian Muldoon & Sons
• Feb 1 Public Consultation Kilkeel Kilmorey Arms Hotel
• Feb 20 Virtual Exhibition Closes Online

All public consultation events will open at 3 pm and final entry to venues will be at 8.30 pm, it says. Experts from Parkwind, ESB, and their environmental consultants will be on hand to answer questions in relation to the project.

Oriel will also be hosting a webinar to present details of the project and the planning process on Thursday, January 19th at 7 pm.

“We are delighted to be able to once again engage with the local communities and stakeholders in Co Louth and Co Down in relation to this key green energy project,” Connell. Said.

“Our door has always been open to engage with stakeholders and that will continue to be the case as we move through every phase of this project,” he added.

The Oriel project will play a key role in the development of offshore wind energy in Ireland and will help meet the Government’s target of generating 7 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind by 2030, the company says

The virtual consultation room, including information about the project and details of the public events can be viewed at www.orielwindfarm.ie

Ireland’s largest Phase One offshore wind project, Codling Wind Park, which will be located off the County Wicklow coast, will require almost 30% fewer wind turbines than originally proposed. Notwithstanding this significant reduction in wind turbines, the development will still generate enough renewable electricity to meet over 20% of Ireland’s 2030 offshore wind targets.

While the initial estimate for the number of turbines required had been put at a maximum of 140, the project team says advances in wind turbine technology, combined with a more detailed understanding of the wind farm site, means a maximum of 100 turbines – almost a third less – will now be required.

Codling Wind Park is a 50/50 joint venture between Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables and will be located approximately 13 to 22 kilometres off the Co. Wicklow coast between Greystones and Wicklow Town.

It has also been confirmed, by EirGrid, that Poolbeg in Ringsend will be the location of the project’s electricity grid connection with 1,450MW – enough electricity to power up to 1.2 million Irish homes – confirmed as the maximum amount of electricity it will generate. The project had previously indicated that it hoped to generate between 900MW and 1,500MW.

An EDF Renewables Offshore Wind Farm at Blyth Photo: Chris Henderson

The consultation process will provide further details on various onshore and offshore environmental, technical and feasibility surveys being carried out as part of the project. Feedback gathered from the public as part of this consultation process will feed into the ongoing development of the project, and updated proposals will be presented at a third phase of public consultation later this year.

New details about the project were announced ahead of the second round of public consultation, which is taking place from the 11th of January to the 8th of February. The consultation will include a number of face-to-face exhibitions in Wicklow and Poolbeg, together with an online virtual exhibition and a series of dedicated information clinics.

Co-Project Director Scott Sutherland said everyone at Codling Wind Park was looking forward to the consultation and the opportunity to engage with, and hear from, local communities and other stakeholders.

“We have made significant progress since our first phase of public consultation in March 2021 and we are looking forward to updating people, in Wicklow and Poolbeg in particular, and receiving their thoughts and feedback on a range of topics, including the design of the project, the Environmental Impact Assessment we are working on, the best way we can deliver benefits to local communities through the Community Benefit Fund over the next 20 years and how best we can continue to engage with the fishing and sailing communities.”

Codling Wind Park was recently awarded a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. Together with the grid connection agreement it has received from EirGrid, this enables the project to participate in the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Scheme (ORESS) auction in the coming months. If successful, the project will then submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála later this year.

Mr Sutherland said this first auction will be a seminal moment for Ireland’s offshore wind industry.

“We are excited not only to deliver one of the largest energy infrastructure investments ever seen in Ireland, but to also help the country realise its enormous potential and become a world leader in offshore wind. Our total focus now is on progressing the Codling Wind Park project through the ORESS auction and into planning. The awarding of a MAC and the confirmation of our grid location and capacity were key steps in that process.

“On its own, Codling Wind Park can help Ireland deliver over 20% of the country’s 7GW renewable energy target by 2030. This demonstrates the importance of this project – and the other Phase 1 projects – in supporting the country’s future energy security and in helping Ireland achieve its target of generating 80% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030,” he said.

When developed, Codling Wind Park will be Ireland’s largest offshore wind farm. The project is expected to create over 1,000 jobs in the construction phase and 75 new, long-term jobs associated with its proposed Operations and Maintenance Base at Wicklow Port.

Subject to all necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2026, and is expected to take two to three years to complete.

The Codling Wind Park has submitted its application for a maritime area consent (MAC) as part of the Government’s streamlined procedure for marine planning.

The renewable energy project on the Codling Bank in the Irish Sea is about 13 km off the east coast, close to Wicklow.

Describing it as a “significant project milestone”, the project has also announced changes to its management team.

The project says that its partners – EDF Renewables and Fred. Olsen Seawind – are “becoming more directly involved in the day-to-day running of what is a strategically important project for both companies”.

Thomas Gellert Photo: Codling Wind Park

Thomas Gellert, currently senior vice-president for project execution at Fred. Olsen Seawind, and Scott Sutherland, head of offshore wind at EDF Renewables, have been appointed as co-project directors.

They bring a combined experience of almost 30 years in the “execution and delivery of industry-leading offshore wind projects”, the project says.

“They will take up their joint leadership role straight away, with former project director Arno Verbeek continuing as a senior advisor to the partners,” it says.

Codling Wind Park says that if its MAC application is successful, it will allow the project to compete in the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Scheme (ORESS) auction, which is due to open later this year, and to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála.

Information clinics on the Codling Wind Park will continue throughout the summer, in Greystones, Kilcoole and Wicklow town, with a further pop-up clinic available to groups on request, it says.

A full schedule of clinics, including details for booking a slot, are available on the Codling Wind Park website: Information Clinics - Codling Wind Park.

Codling Wind Park Limited intends to undertake a new geotechnical survey off the coast of Dublin, following last year’s site investigations, as part of the consenting process for the Codling Wind Park project.

Operations will commence, at the earliest, from Monday 6 June and likely finish four weeks later on Monday 4 July, weather permitting.

The works will consist of a geotechnical investigation to characterise the potential export cable corridor. The works will be conducted at a single location at any given time.

The Codling Wind Park is a project on the Codling Bank approximately 13km off the east coast of Ireland, near to Wicklow.

Several potential export cable corridors are being assessed. The survey will encompass the area of the proposed cable corridor.

A total of three vessels will be working on the project: the jack-up barge OCM 80 (no callsign), the tug Trojan (callsign EI-EX-6) and crew transfer vessel Ocean Clipper (callsign EI-WW-5).

All other vessels operating within their vicinity are requested to keep their distance and pass at minimum speed to reduce vessel wash around the jack-up barge during the survey period.

It is intended that geotechnical investigation will be operating on 12-hour shifts, seven days per week within the boundary area for the duration of the proposed works.

Throughout survey operations, the vessels will be displaying the appropriate lights and shapes as required under the COLREGS Rule 27 (b).

Coordinates of the survey area as well as contact details are included in Marine Notice No 29 of 2022, attached below.