A plan to build 30 windturbines in the Atlantic Ocean off the Co Galway and Co Clare coast, which was one of six major offshore windfarm projects central to the Government’s Climate Action Plan, will not now be proceeding.
The Sceirde Rocks Windfarm project, that was developed by Corio Generation, was due to deliver power for 350,000 homes and save 550,000 tonnes of carbon per year.
Speaking as Gaeilge earlier today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was disappointed at the news.
“We are sorry Corio made this decision but we are going forward. We were not depending on any one project and we have an extensive plan going into the future, and some of those windfarms are already permitted.”
The projet had been planning to construct its Sceirde Rocks wind-farm on waters located 5km to 11.5km off the west coast with Carna in Co Galway the nearest settlement.
The project had proved controversial locally due to the potential visual impact of 30 turbines with a maximum height of 325 metres.
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RTÉ News has sought a response from Corio Generation this evening.
So far none has been issued but the company indicated six days ago that it was reprioritising its projects.
“Given the challenging market conditions in the offshore wind sector, Corio Generation is refocusing its global operations to prioritise the development of a smaller portfolio of projects which have the clearest route through to construction.”
Speaking this evening, the Minister for the Environment Darragh O’Brien said the loss of the project is “regrettable” but that the Government had anticipated there could be “attrition” from proposed offshore wind projects.
“Collectively, the Phase One projects, which are being progressed through planning, will deliver almost 4 GW (4000 MW) of renewable energy. In addition, we will be progressing a new National DMAP (Designated Maritime Area Plan) process to identify additional sites for the development of offshore wind in Ireland,” Minister O’Brien said.
“As a government, we remain very committed to the delivery of offshore wind in Ireland.”
The minister said the second offshore wind auction will take place later this year for 900 MW of generation off the south east coast, while proposals will go to Cabinet this week to identify new offshore locations around the coast.
The news comes despite the fact that a planning application for the windfarm was submitted to An Bord Pleanála earlier this year and Corio has said construction would begin in 2026.
The first power generated from the windfarm was due to come onstream by 2030.
