Construction

Construction

The construction of the Dublin Array Offshore Wind Farm will comprise onshore and offshore elements.

Offshore Construction

The offshore construction works will comprise the following:
  • Fixing of turbine foundations to the seabed
  • Installation of meteorological equipment
  • Construction of one or more offshore collector substation(s)
  • Laying of cables from the offshore substation(s) to the landfall
  • Laying of inter-turbine cabling to connect the turbines to each other, and to the collector substation(s)
  • Erection of the wind turbines
In determining the final offshore cable routes and installation methods the project team will take into consideration a number of factors including seabed conditions, the presence of existing infrastructure and marine archaeology, sensitive ecological features, and other uses of the marine area.

Triton Knoll construction

Triton Knoll construction

Onshore Construction

The onshore construction works will comprise the following:

  • Landfall and Transition Joint Bay (TJB) site(s),
  • The laying of cables, and
  • The construction of an onshore substation(s), adjacent to Carrickmines, Poolbeg or any other connection point as agreed by EirGrid.

The onshore cable routes to get to the substation will be chosen based on a number of factors, with the goal being to reduce the cable installation nuisance as much as possible.

All works areas at the landfall and along the cable route will be restored to their original condition following the completion of the works.
The only onshore works that will be visible after completion will be the onshore substation(s). There are ongoing works to find the best location for this substation, subject to the constraints of the existing electricity grid system in Dublin. The two main sites currently being investigated are at Carrickmines and Poolbeg. The substation will be located as close as possible to existing ESB structures, with the connection point being determined by EirGrid.