Irish Sea Codling wind project enters planning application phase

The Codling Wind Park joint venture partners will submit a planning application early next week to Ireland’s An Bord Pleanála.

Co-owners Fred. Olsen Seawind and EDF Renewables plan a capacity of up to 1,300 MW, with the development to be located 13-22 km offshore the Wicklow coast in the Irish Sea, and it will be connecting to the Irish grid at Poolbeg in Dublin.

Project director Scott Sutherland said the application was the result of more than 15 years of data gathering and site investigations offshore and onshore, including geophysical, aerial and vessel-based surveys.

Earlier this year, the development team announced a further reduction in the number of wind turbines required from 100 to 75. This was based on technology advances and a two-year public consultation and engagement process.

Subject to planning permission and all other necessary permits and consents being received, Codling Wind Park could begin construction in 2026-27. Construction could take up to three years to complete.

There are two design options for the wind array on Codling Bank, a raised area of seabed: 68 turbines at 314 m tip height and 75 turbines at 288 m tip height.

Interarray cables will connect the turbines to three offshore substations within the wind farm array area. Three subsea export cables, 40-50 km long, will connect the offshore substations to landfall on the Poolbeg peninsula in Dublin Bay.

A 220-kv onshore substation and grid connection cables will be located on a site adjacent to Pigeon House Harbour, preparing the electricity to the specifications needed for delivery to EirGrid’s substation at Poolbeg and from there to Ireland’s national grid.