One of Ireland’s largest infrastructure projects in a generation, the giant Codling offshore wind farm, has started public consultation on development of the planned 1.5GW array off the east coast of the country in the Irish Sea.

The first phase engagement on the project by the developer, a consortium of EDF and Fred Olsen, is being run online due to Covid-19 starting with a two-week virtual exhibition, as well as webinars hosted by the project team and a series of virtual information clinics “to facilitate individual and small group meetings with project representatives”.

“Our ambition is to not only develop a project of which Ireland can be proud, but to help create the right conditions for the development of a strong and sustainable offshore wind industry in Ireland,” said project director, Arno Verbeek.

“We want to contribute to Ireland’s low carbon ambitions and help generate a cleaner environment, not only for today’s generation, but for generations to come.”

By the developer’s calculus, Codling, which would be Ireland’s largest wind farm, would be able to supply electricity to some 1.2 million homes – 70%of all households –and to save almost 2 milliontonnes of CO2 emissions every year.

Among the benefits to the regional and national economy, it said, would be the creation of more than 1,000 construction jobs and 70 long-term, locally-based posts.

“We are in the early stages of planning our project and this is the first of many opportunities people will have to see our progress and provide their feedback,” said Verbeek.“Listening to and engaging with the public and all our stakeholders is an important part of our journey, as we want to do this in partnership.

“Feedback is incredibly important to us, and we hope that many people will take the time to view our initial plans and share their thoughts with us. This input will help us to shape and design the project in the months ahead.”

Throughout 2021 a range of offshore and onshore environmental and technical studies and site investigations are set to be undertaken as gears get meshing on Codling, with submission of onshore and offshore planning applications to An Bord Pleanála set for “late 2021 or early 2022”, alongside the project’s environmental impact assessment report.

First steel is slated to be in the water in 2024-25, with construction of Codling expected to take “two to three years” to complete.

The Codling Wind Park virtual exhibition can be accessed via the project website at www.codlingwindpark.ie.

Ireland’s wind industry has been sounding alarm bells on speeding up regulatory measures needed to underpin an offshore wind build programme that’s “unlike anything ever done in Ireland before”, with the Irish Wind Energy Association saying the nation’s government has two years to fix gaping holes in regulation over planning, consenting and grid connection if it wants to hit the end-of-decade 5GW goal.

The 2030 target for fixed-foundation projects – a crucial part of national climate and energy plans that include a 70%-green power system – is the first step in a wider goal for wind at sea that also includes 30GW of floating turbines.

Wind

'For generations to come': Ireland's biggest offshore wind project goes public