A new planning regime will allow SSE Renewables to expand the second phase of its Arklow Bank Wind Park, as RTÉ News reports.

Under the new Maritime Area Planning Act, the company is seeking to boost its proposed expansion of the offshore wind farm project from a previously planned 520MW per year to 800WM.

SSE Renewables had previously developed its plans under the Foreshore Act but will now transfer to the new Marine Area Consents (MACs) scheme kick-started earlier this week by Minister for the Environment and Climate, Eamon Ryan.

The company’s Barry Kilcline said: “We expect to be able to invest around €2.5 billion in the revised project to deliver a new 800MW offshore wind farm by 2028 which will produce substantially greater power generation output at Arklow Bank than under our previous plans.”

RTÉ News has much more on the story HERE.