SSE has announced the submission of an offshore planning consent application to Ireland’s planning authority, An Bord Pleanála, for the proposed Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 project.
This step is part of SSE’s efforts to develop an 800MW offshore wind farm off the coasts of Wicklow and North Wexford.
The Arklow Bank 2 project aims to support Ireland’s transition to renewable energy, providing enough power for approximately 850,000 homes and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by over 800,000 metric tonnes annually.
The project is expected to generate an economic boost of around €800 million (£680m) and create approximately 2,300 jobs.
The development builds on SSE’s initial 25MW offshore project at the site, operational since 2003.
The current phase includes securing planning consent for an operations and maintenance base at Arklow Harbour, onshore cabling and a substation connecting to the national grid.
Subject to planning consent and a final investment decision, construction of Arklow Bank 2 could start in 2026, with energy production beginning by 2029.
This project is part of Ireland’s goal to achieve at least 5GW of offshore renewable energy by 2030.
The planning application proposes the construction of up to 56 offshore wind turbines within an area of about 63 km².
The application also includes two offshore substation platforms and associated sub-sea cabling.
Copyright © 2024 Energy Live News LtdELN