Planning Permission Granted For Arklow Bank’s Onshore Grid Infrastructure

The decision by the Irish planning board is an historic first for Ireland’s offshore wind sector.

In its planning decision issued today to SSE Renewables through its subsidiary Sure Partners Limited, An Bord Pleanála has approved the development of a 220kV substation at Avoca River Business Park with an associated connection from the new substation to the existing national transmission network.

The development also includes an underground cable route and associated infrastructure connecting the substation to the landfall point at Johnstown North, Arklow, where it will meet the planned subsea offshore cables connecting to the wind farm.

It means leading renewable energy company SSE Renewables is the first renewable energy company to secure planning permission to develop onshore transmission grid infrastructure for an Irish offshore wind farm.

The decision is also a significant milestone for the delivery of the next phase of the Arklow Bank project.

The consent comes just ahead of the upcoming application by SSE Renewables to the Irish Government for a Maritime Area Consent to allow it to proceed to apply for planning permission for the project’s offshore infrastructure including offshore wind turbines, offshore substation platforms, and subsea cables.

SSE Renewables is actively developing Phase 2 of Arklow Bank Wind Park which will be located in an area situated six to 13km off the Wicklow coastline, to the east of Arklow.