SSE has submitted a planning consent application to Ireland's An Bord Pleanála for the offshore infrastructure of its proposed Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 project in the Irish Sea.

This is the latest and most significant milestone in the delivery of SSE's flagship Irish offshore wind farm project, which is being developed off the coasts of Wicklow and North Wexford. The Maritime Area Planning Application is being submitted by Sure Partners Ltd. (SPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of FTSE 100 listed company SSE Plc under SSE Renewables.

If approved and constructed, the up to 800MW Arklow Bank 2 project would significantly contribute to advancing Ireland's transition to a cleaner and more secure domestically produced energy system. Once operational, the offshore wind farm could generate enough renewable energy to offset over 800,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually and provide power for approximately 850,000 homes yearly.

Submission of an offshore planning consent application for the Arklow Bank 2 project is the culmination of almost seven years' development work by leading renewable energy developer, owner, and operator, SSE Renewables. This recent phase of development builds on the original vision for offshore wind generation at Arklow Bank, which dates to 2003 when the original 25MW offshore project was first commissioned at the site.

Today, Arklow Bank 2 stands as one of Ireland's most advanced offshore wind projects, having already obtained planning consent for an operations and maintenance base at Arklow Harbour, which will host approximately 80 full-time employees. Additionally, consent has been secured for onshore cabling and a substation to connect the project to Ireland’s national grid. This latest application represents the third and final planning consent needed to progress to the construction phase.

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Pending planning consent and SSE's final investment decision, construction of Arklow Bank 2 could begin as early as 2026, with the first energy generated by 2029, aligning with Ireland's goal of reaching at least 5GW of offshore renewable energy by 2030. Furthermore, Arklow Bank 2 is projected to provide an overall national economic benefit of up to €800 million, with approximately €400 million benefiting the local Wicklow and Wexford region. The project is expected to support around 2,300 direct and indirect jobs throughout its construction and operational lifespan.

James O'Hara, Arklow Bank Project Director at SSE Renewables said: "Our team of over 50 renewable energy professionals supported by a dedicated local supply chain has been working hard to deliver SSE’s flagship Irish offshore wind farm – Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 – for almost seven years now. In doing so, we’re fulfilling the pioneering vision of delivering commercial scale offshore wind at Arklow Bank which dates back almost 20 years to when the first seven turbines were installed at the site and became Ireland’s first and only operational offshore wind farm.

"Now, we’re pleased to announce we’re submitting what we believe is a robust and compelling planning application to deliver a world class renewable energy asset at Arklow Bank using the very latest offshore technology that can generate the additional green energy Ireland needs to meet 2030 renewable energy targets in a sustainable and environmentally sensitive manner. Arklow Bank is a unique and well-advanced project that enjoys widespread public and stakeholder support, especially among communities in south Wicklow and north Wexford. By delivering on the Arklow Bank vision we can make a significant contribution to climate action while bringing enormous national and regional socio-economic benefits such as up to €800m economic investment, hundreds of jobs and a multi-million Euro Community Benefit Fund."

The planning application outlines the construction of up to 56 offshore wind turbines, subject to the final project design, situated in an area of approximately 63 km2 on and around the Arklow Bank off the coast of Wicklow and Wexford. Each turbine would be mounted on steel monopile foundations. Additionally, the offshore application includes plans for two Offshore Substation Platforms and associated sub-sea cabling for export, inter-array and interconnector purposes, linking the offshore wind farm to Ireland’s national grid at a landfall point at Johnstown North, north of Arklow Town.

This submission follows a thorough period of public consultation with local communities and stakeholders in Wicklow and Wexford last year. The feedback received during this process has contributed to refining the application now under consideration.

Alongside the planning application, SSE Renewables has submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment Report as well as a Natura Impact Statement in respect of the proposed development to An Bord Pleanála.

In addition to accessing planning documents online, copies of the application and all supporting documents can also be viewed for a period of eight weeks commencing on 13 June 2024 at the following office locations:

•The Offices of An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, D01 V902

•The Offices of Wicklow County Council, County Buildings, Whitegates, Wicklow Town, A67 FW96.

•The Offices of Wexford County Council, County Hall, Carricklawn, Wexford, Y35 WY93