SSE Renewables Look To Increase Energy Output In Wicklow

The decision by SSE Renewables to transfer Phase 2 of Arklow Bank Wind Park from the current route of delivery via the Foreshore Act into the MAC regime has been notified to both the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications and to the Minister for Planning.

Transferring Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2 to the MAP process allows SSE Renewables to revise the project and substantially increase the power generation output from the site to 800MW.

This means the project will be able to make an even more significant contribution to Ireland’s climate action target of at least 5GW by 2030, and to Ireland’s national and local economy.

The revised project will now be capable of powering almost 850,000 homes each year, almost double the number of homes targeted by the initial iteration of the project, and offsetting around 830 billion kilos of harmful carbon emissions annually.

The upscaled offshore wind energy project is expected to require an investment of up to €2.5 billion and, under current planning timelines, is expected to deliver in 2028, subject to a final investment decision.

The project’s operations and maintenance base will continue to be located at Arklow Harbour’s South Dock, where 80 people will be employed to support the wind farm over its operational lifetime.

Furthermore, the proposed onshore underground cable route and the location of the substation at the Avoca River Business Park remain unchanged.

Once operational the wind farm will also deliver a multi-million-euro annual community fund which will now grow in line with the increased level of MWs generated.