Ireland's Codling Wind Park cuts turbine count, aims for 1.45 GW

The developers of the Codling Wind Park, the largest in Ireland’s first batch of offshore wind projects, provided an update on Wednesday with regard to its development progress, including a reduction of the maximum number of turbines to 100 from 140.

The reduction is a result of advances in wind turbine technology and a better understanding of the wind farm site.

In addition, the project, a joint venture between EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind, has received confirmation from EirGrid for its grid connection location at Poolbeg in Ringsend with 1,450 MW of capacity. Previously, the project had indicated a potential capacity of between 900 MW and 1,500 MW.

The project will now hold a second round of public consultation from January 11 to February 8, after an initial round in March 2021.

Codling Wind Park is among the first six offshore wind projects to be issued maritime area consents (MAC) in Ireland. This paved the way for the schemes to participate in the country's upcoming first offshore wind auction targeting 2.5 GW of capacity. If successful in the auction, the project will submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanala later in 2023.

Co-project director Scott Sutherland noted that Codling Wind Park can help Ireland deliver more than one-fifth of its 7-GW renewable energy target by 2030.

Located some 13-22 kilometres (8-14 miles) off the County Wicklow coast, the project could start construction in 2026.

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