Ocean Winds (OW), the joint venture between Engie and EDPR, is entering the Irish offshore wind market with proposals for the bottom-fixed Cailleach offshore windfarm in the Irish Sea
The 317-km2 site is 13 km from shore at Braehead in County Wicklow and is expected to have a capacity of 1.6 GW.
Ocean Winds UK and Ireland country manager Dan Finch said, “The Irish Government has acknowledged their geographic and climatic advantages with ambitious targets to achieve 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030 and is delivering public policy proposals to support this.
“We look forward to playing an important part as trusted partner in enabling Ireland to achieve its 2030 and wider net-zero ambitions with this and future projects.”
Ocean Winds new offshore wind opportunities manager Andronikos Kafas said, “Our application for a foreshore licence marks our entry to a new market while the new competitive regulatory regime is being established.
“We look forward to presenting attractive, high-quality, highly competitive proposals, and creating new opportunities for local enterprises at the cutting edge of renewable technology. Our proposals will be available for inspection at public information events which will be advertised in the next few months, subject to the evolving Covid-19 situation.”
OW plans to extend its ambitions to other potential sites in Ireland, employing its extensive experience to deliver high-standard projects and in working with local suppliers where possible, promoting local market and supply-chain growth.
The Cailleach Offshore windfarm is being developed by Cailleach Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, a project delivery company wholly owned by OW.
The foreshore licence application to carry out initial site investigations within the proposed site and cable route will help determine development feasibility. The investigations will also be used to inform the environmental impact assessment and appropriate assessment required for the purposes of securing planning consent.
The project intends to obtain a Renewable Electricity Support Scheme award by the mid-2020s and contribute to the government’s 2030 policy targets. Programmes of stakeholder and community engagement will be announced shortly.
The Cailleach windfarm will be developed under the regime established by the new Irish Maritime Area Planning Bill 2021 (formerly Marine Planning and Development Management Bill).
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.