Arklow Bank Wind Park in Ireland is the country’s first offshore wind project, commissioned in 2004. As of 2022, there is no offshore wind project other than Arklow Bank–it is the first and only offshore wind project operating in Ireland for 18 years.
Though groundbreaking at the time, the first phase was not followed up until GE Energy revived the expansion plans in 2020. Wind energy is an excellent option to reduce harmful carbon emissions annually. The plans for the second phase are an even more significant contribution at 800 MW.
How many wind turbines are in Arklow Bank?
Arklow Bank has 7 turbines for a total of 25.2 MW. As of 2022, these seven turbines sum up the investment made by Ireland in offshore wind.
What turbines are at Arklow Bank Wind Park?
Phase 1 has 7 GE 3.6 offshore wind turbines.
Where is Arklow Bank Wind Park?
The wind park is in the Irish Sea, 10 kilometers east of the town of Arklow. The wind farm is north of Wexford and south of Dublin and Wicklow.
Who owns Arklow Bank Wind Park?
GE Energy owns and operates the wind park, while Airtricity co-developed the project in 2004.
Why was the Arklow sandbank chosen as the location for the wind farm?
The shallow water depths at Arklow, at 20 meters and less, made the project more cost-effective for the developers. The easy-to-reach seabed of Arklow was especially important in 2004 when monopile technologies were not yet fully developed for the offshore wind industry.
How many offshore wind farms are there in Ireland?
The only offshore wind farm in Ireland is Arklow Bank Wind Park. It was the first to be installed off the Republic of Ireland’s shores and was soon eclipsed by its second phase with an 800 MW capacity in 2028.
How many wind farms are in Ireland?
Including the onshore wind farms, there are over 300 wind farms in the Republic of Ireland. Arklow Bank Wind Park is the only offshore wind farm in Ireland.
How many offshore wind farms are in Ireland?
Aside from Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 1 and 2, the Republic of Ireland has six potential offshore wind projects. The following offshore wind farms are Oriel Wind Park, RWE’s Bray and Kish Banks (Dublin Array), Codling Wind Park I and II, Fuinneamh Sceirde Teoranta (Skerd Rocks), and North Irish Sea Array (NISA).
Expansion Plans
The second phase will substantially increase Ireland’s offshore power generation output by a hundredfold. Based on current planning timelines, the project’s expansion is expected to receive commissioning by 2028. SSE Renewables is developing the project.
New consenting regimes of the Republic of Ireland delayed the plans. SSE Renewables also received a foreshore license in 2022 for its maritime studies. The company is anticipated to apply a maritime area consent leading to the request for planning permissions.
The potential of the second phase of the offshore wind farm is 800 MW which is now moving forward to its next stage. After three years of preparatory work, the growth of Arklow Bank Wind Park phase 2 received planning permission in 2022.
SSE renewables plan to invest €2.5 billion for the second phase. The planned second phase can have 62 turbines and two offshore substation platforms.