SSE Renewables has been granted planning permission to develop the onshore grid infrastructure necessary to connect the second phase of Arklow Bank Wind Park to Ireland’s electricity transmission grid.

The Scottish renewables company received consent for the next phase of the Arklow Bank project from Irish planning board An Bord Pleanála under the Irish Government’s new Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act process.

The planning board’s decision means SSE Renewables is one of the first renewable energy companies to secure planning permission to develop onshore transmission grid infrastructure for an Irish offshore wind farm.

The second phase of the 800MW Arklow Bank development will be located in an area situated six to 13km off the Co Wicklow coastline.

An Bord Pleanála has also approved the development of a 220kV substation at Avoca River Business Park in Arklow. This includes an associated connection from the new substation to the existing national transmission network.

It builds on the existing GE-owned seven turbines that comprise the operational first phase of the wind park. The development will have the potential to power almost 850,000 homes annually. It could also potentially offset around 830bn kilos of harmful carbon emissions each year.

The offshore wind energy project is expected to require an investment of up to €2.5bn. It is expected to deliver first power in 2028 ahead of completion in 2029. However, this is subject to a final investment decision.

Kaj Christiansen, Arklow Bank development manager at SSE Renewables, called An Bord Pleanála’s decision a “critical milestone” in the development of the Arklow Bank  project.

“This consent is the culmination of almost three years of work by members of our project team and our consultants, ARUP.

Last June, SSE Renewables revealed its plans to develop a €15m support base for the Wicklow project. The maintenance and operations facility is expected to be completed in 2025.

“This is the first ever planning decision for any component of an offshore wind farm of scale in Ireland. It marks a significant step forward for the country, for our planning authorities, and for industry as we work collaboratively to deliver offshore wind in Ireland at scale,” Christiansen continued.

“The decision also brings SSE Renewables a step closer in delivering the next phase of Arklow Bank Wind Park, and our ambition to unlock investment, deliver jobs and local community benefits, and critically help achieve Ireland’s climate action targets by 2030.”

10 things you need to know direct to your inbox every weekday. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of essential sci-tech news.

The post SSE Renewables gets go ahead for Arklow Bank grid development appeared first on Silicon Republic.