Powering Up Offshore South Coast

As the project progresses, this webpage will provide updates and information, as well as all relevant brochures, documents and community engagement details. 

If you have a query which is not covered in our FAQ section, you can reach out to our project team via the contact information below.

EirGrid develops, manages, and operates Ireland’s electricity grid. We are responsible for the safe, secure and reliable supply of Ireland’s electricity. Our job is to bring power from where it is generated to where it is needed throughout Ireland, onshore and offshore. 

Powering Up Offshore - South Coast is a project to build the new transmission grid infrastructure necessary to bring power generated by offshore windfarms into our national grid.

As part of the government-led approach to the delivery of offshore wind, approximately 900 MW of electricity is to be supplied from wind farms in the sea off Ireland’s south coast - enough to power almost one million homes with clean energy.

While EirGrid is not responsible for generating electricity or building windfarms, we are responsible for connecting electricity generation infrastructure, such as offshore and onshore windfarms, into our national electricity grid. 

To enable the integration of offshore wind it is necessary for EirGrid to provide the necessary infrastructure. For this project the following infrastructure is required:

Two offshore substation platforms – to be located within the Maritime Area A, also known as Tonn Nua which is indicated on the map below, of the South Coast – Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP.) The (SC-DMAP) is Ireland's first forward spatial plan for offshore renewable energy (ORE). 

The following supporting infrastructure will then be required in Co Cork and in Co Waterford/Wexford:

Developing the offshore electricity grid is key to harnessing Ireland’s offshore wind energy potential and providing greater security of electricity supply from a clean renewable source.

The South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan for Offshore Renewable Energy (SC-DMAP) is Ireland’s first spatial plan for offshore renewable energy (ORE). 

The substantial marine space and sea depths off the South Coast of Ireland are suitable for immediate and future developments of offshore wind. With the significant and growing population and industrial base along the South Coast the region is well placed to benefit from the long-term secure supply of green energy that will be provided by implementation of the SC-DMAP. 

The Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) recently confirmed the South Coast Designated Marine Area Plan (SC-DMAP). The SC-DMAP represents a spatial government-led approach for the development of offshore wind farms. 

The SC-DMAP includes four proposed areas for future offshore wind development. The first area off the south coast that will host offshore wind farm development is area A, Tonn Nua. 

This will help deliver approximately 900 megawatts of additional electricity - enough to power almost one million homes with clean energy.

Benefits of the Project

Sustainability: This project will enable homes and businesses across the Irish coast and beyond to use electricity generated from offshore renewable energy. 

Security and reliability of supply: Building a more independent, resilient and reliable electricity grid helps ensure that everyone has power when and where they need it. 

Social and community: EirGrid’s community benefit policy will directly support local communities in the areas that host the programme infrastructure. 

Meet future needs: As our society and economy develops, the programme will help us meet the growing demand for electricity, without increasing our carbon footprint. 

Economic: This critical programme will help strengthen the economy across coastal regions, encouraging and supporting industry investment with accessibility to a strong electricity grid.

We are now at Step 3, Best Performing Options

The development of this project follows EirGrid’s 6-Step approach to Grid Development (see below) which sets out the steps to be taken to identify and implement the best performing solution that meets the needs outlined. 

EirGrid’s Framework for Grid Development is a 6-step process for all EirGrid’s grid development projects, from the identification of a project needed to develop the electricity transmission grid through to the construction and subsequent project energisation. 

During Step 3, EirGrid is evaluating options for Landfall Zones and Grid Connection Zones with the aim of identifying a short-list of options to bring forward to Step 4. 

EirGrid has also applied for a Maritime Usage Licence Application to explore the suitability of the marine areas under consideration as part of this project.

The MUL is a critical step for this project, enabling us to undertake surveys within the maritime area. Should the application for a MUL be successful, EirGrid will actively engage with local stakeholders, including fishing communities, representatives from the Seafood & Offshore Renewable Energy Working Group and local councils, providing regular updates on the MUL licensing activities. Further details of this MUL application are available on the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) website.

Public consultation will take place from Tuesday 12 November until Friday 24 January. 

You can make a submission:

via EirGrid’s consultation portal

or 

Email your submissions to southcoastoffshore@eirgrid.ie 

or 

Submit your response in hard copy via free post to the following address: 

Powering Up Offshore - South Coast Step 3 Consultation
EirGrid plc
Freepost FDN 5312
160 Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
D04 FW28

Your feedback will be reviewed and considered and will influence project design, where possible. 

Throughout the consultation, we are holding a series of face-to-face engagements. This provides an opportunity for us to present information to you and for you to speak to members of our project team about the project and answer any questions you may have before you submit your views.

If you would prefer to receive any information relating to the consultation through the post, or you need it in another format, please get in touch.

If you have any difficulty writing down your feedback, a member of the Public Engagement team will be able to take comments over the phone.

Information events

Visit one of our face-to-face public information events being held at the following locations across the project study area to find out more and speak to experts within the team.

Webinars

Attend an hour-long webinar where we will present details of the project followed by an open Q&A

EirGrid will establish a Community Forum for the Powering Up Offshore South Coast project. 

The purpose of this forum is to make sure that the voices of local communities, and those impacted most by our infrastructure, are listened to. 

The forums provide for open dialogue between the project team and stakeholders interested in the project.

The community forums will engage with EirGrid on key project developments such as:

The Community Forum for Powering Up Offshore South Coast, which will be chaired by an independent facilitator and will act as a consultative body, will not replace any other engagement and consultation that EirGrid carries out.

October 2024

Ireland’s Oireachtas has approved the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP) which identifies four sites for new offshore wind farms off the south coast. 

The motion approving the plan was passed without opposition in Seanad Éireann and following this was passed in the Dáil. 

This clears the way for an auction to take place early next year for the first of the sites (Area A), known as Tonn Nua, which would be a 900 MW offshore wind farm.

May 2024

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan has published the draft South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (SC-DMAP), which identifies four maritime areas off the south coast in which development of offshore renewable energy is proposed to take place.

Following publication, the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) is now holding a public consultation on the proposed location for the development of offshore renewable energy on the south coast. This location is referred to as the South Coast Designated Marine Area Plan (SC-DMAP). 

Following conclusion of the consultation and issuing of the final SC- DMAP by government, as part of Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future, EirGrid plans to develop offshore electricity substation(s) and associated undersea electricity cables. This new infrastructure will bring the power generated by offshore windfarms into our national electricity grid. 

February 2024 

In line with the update provided in December 2023 by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications for the South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), EirGrid understands that a draft DMAP is due to be published in Spring 2024.  

This will provide further detail on future offshore renewable energy along the south coast of Ireland.

EirGrid is therefore withdrawing the current foreshore licence applications on the south coast and will await the detail of this upcoming plan.

New licence application/s will subsequently be made to the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA) in accordance with updated legislative provisions.