Once built, the Dublin Array offshore wind farm could generate enough energy to power 770k Irish homes.
Proponents of a plan to build an offshore wind farm off the coast of counties Dublin and Wicklow will submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála to make it happen.
Kish Offshore Wind Limited and Bray Offshore Wind Limited will submit a planning application the Dublin Array offshore wind farm.
“The submission of our planning application is a very significant milestone for Dublin Array and for the Irish renewable energy sector”
The wind farm could generate more than 800 construction jobs and up to 80 full-time jobs as well as generate up to €650m in economic impact for the greater Dublin area.
Fair winds
The Dublin Array project is a joint venture between RWE and Saorgus Energy with RWE leading the development of the project on behalf of the partnership.
Once fully constructed, Dublin Array would be capable of generating up to 824 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity, which is enough energy to power the equivalent of approximately 770,000 typical Irish homes.
It is envisaged the development of Dublin Array would play a key role in supporting Ireland to meet its Climate Action Plan, which aims to deliver 80% of total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030.
The project’s proposer say the new wind farm will support domestic energy generation, helping to reduce Ireland’s need to import and burn fossil fuels for electricity.
“We have had extensive consultations and communications with stakeholders and local communities in recent years, this has been with the aim of keeping people informed about the project and to seek their views and inputs,” said Vanessa O’Connell, RWE Renewables Ireland and Dublin Array Project director.
“RWE has a strong track record of working closely with communities in areas where we operate offshore wind projects, and that will also be the case with Dublin Array.”
The Dublin Array wind farm project would be located 10km off the coast of counties Dublin and Wicklow and have between 39 and 50 wind turbines.
Subject to obtaining planning permission and a financial investment decision, construction of Dublin Array could begin as early as 2027, with operations projected to start in 2030.
The project is likely to require more than 800 full-time equivalent roles during the construction phase, with approximately 80 people directly employed and 160 indirectly employed by Dublin Array over the longer term operational phase.
The proposed location for the Dublin Array operational base would be in Dún Laoghaire Harbour, with a new facility being located on St. Michael’s Pier adjacent to the ferry terminal building.
Locating the operational base in Dún Laoghaire would have a significant financial impact across the Greater Dublin Area, as it would generate an estimated €450m to €650m in regional expenditure over the lifetime of the wind farm.
RWE recently opened its new office in Dún Laoghaire to act as its base for offshore wind development in Ireland, this includes 27 Irish-based employees working on the development of Dublin Array.
Dublin Array also proposes to deliver a Community Benefit Fund, worth up to €6.5m per annum for 20 years, with the first payments becoming available at the construction stage of the project.
As with other RWE Community Benefit scheme, decisions on how the funds can be spent would be made by a committee of local representatives who will be appointed by an independent fund administrator.
The planning application for Dublin Array also includes the proposed construction of a new substation at Jamestown, Dublin 18, which will connect the electricity generated by the Offshore wind farm into the national electricity transmission system at the existing substation in Carrickmines, Dublin 18.
“The submission of our planning application is a very significant milestone for Dublin Array and for the Irish renewable energy sector,” said Paul Kelly, RWE Renewables Ireland, Consents Lead.
“RWE has been the lead developer on this project since 2019 whose work has involved extensive site surveying, scientific and engineering assessment, public and stakeholder consultation, all of which will enable us to deliver the most sustainable design for the project.”
Main image at top: Vanessa O’Connell, RWE Renewables Ireland and Dublin Array Project director, and Paul Kelly, RWE Renewables Ireland, Consents Lead
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