- Dublin Array successful in Ireland’s first ORESS auction.
- 824 MW Dublin Array will be RWE’s first Irish offshore wind farm
- Dublin Array will be one of Ireland’s first commercial offshore wind farms
RWE Renewables (RWE), a global leader in offshore wind, was delighted to receive formal confirmation today that its 824MW Dublin Array Offshore Wind Farm project has been successful in Ireland’s first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (ORESS 1).
The formal announcement by the Irish State follows a provisional result announced last month.
Dublin Array will be one of Ireland’s first commercial offshore wind farms to be constructed, helping to meet the Government’s target of 5GW of offshore wind energy being connected to the Irish national grid by 2030. The project intends to apply for planning consent later this year and, subject to this being secured, construction of Dublin Array could begin in 2026.
Dublin Array will be RWE’s first offshore wind farm in Ireland, which RWE views as a key market, with additional projects already in development, including the 900 MW East Celtic Offshore Wind Farm. RWE is also expanding its onshore wind farm and battery storage portfolio in Ireland.
Peter Lefroy, Dublin Array Project Director: “This is a very significant day for the Dublin Array project, and for the future of offshore wind energy in Ireland. We are continuing to refine our overall plans for the project and intend to submit a planning application later this year. RWE has a strong track record of working closely with local communities and suppliers in the development of offshore wind projects and we will bring this experience to our engagement for the Dublin Array project. The positive economic benefits of Dublin Array will be seen by coastal communities in south Dublin and north Wicklow through our dedicated Community Benefit Fund, while the wider Irish population will benefit from our contribution to decarbonising the Irish energy system.
The success of the first ORESS round is a huge milestone for Ireland in the fight against climate change. It comes ahead of tomorrow’s Global Wind Day and demonstrates to global developers that Ireland is an attractive market to enter. This will result in even more renewable energy projects being developed, which will further decrease Ireland’s carbon emissions and its dependence on foreign fossil fuels.
We aim to further expand our offshore portfolio in Ireland, with our East Celtic project and others in development, and hope to participate in future auctions.”
Sven Utermöhlen, RWE CEO Offshore Wind: “We’re thrilled to have officially secured our route to market, solidifying our position in Ireland. We bring more than 20 years of offshore experience to help ensure the successful delivery of Dublin Array. We look forward to working with the Irish Government to help Ireland meet its 2030 climate targets and enhance security of supply,”
Dublin Array
Dublin Array is a proposed offshore wind farm which will be located on the Kish and Bray Banks, approximately 10km from the coastline of counties Dublin and Wicklow. It is being developed by RWE, one of the world’s leading developers of renewable energy, and Irish renewable energy firm Saorgus Energy. RWE is leading the development on behalf of the partnership.
Once operational, the project will deliver up to 824MW of renewable electricity via 39 to 50 wind turbines. This is enough energy to supply around 770,000 homes and reduce Ireland’s annual carbon emissions by over 1.4m tonnes per year. The final decision on the number of turbines will be informed by ongoing surveys and detailed design work.
The Dublin Array project will also bring significant economic benefits during its construction and operation, with over 1,000 jobs being created during the construction phase and 80 direct and 160 indirect full-time jobs expected during the 30-year operational phase. Dublin Array’s Operations and Maintenance base is expected to be located in Dún Laoghaire, resulting in an estimated €540 million in local expenditure across the Greater Dublin Area.
Dublin Array was awarded its Maritime Area Consent (MAC) in December 2022. A MAC is required for any proposed Irish offshore wind farm development to be able to seek a development consent. Subject to a development consent being secured, the project could be operational by 2028.
RWE Renewable Ireland
As well as offshore developments in Ireland, RWE Renewables also has onshore wind and battery storage projects in operation and in development.
Ireland is a key market for RWE and will be well placed to benefit from its ‘Growing Green’ strategy of expanding RWE’s global capacity to 50 GW through an investment of €50 billion gross by 2030.