RWE Renewables Ireland and Saorgus Energy have applied for a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) for the proposed Dublin Array offshore wind farm project.
The Maritime Area Consent is a new State Consent process introduced under the Maritime Area Planning Act, 2021 to regulate the use of Ireland’s maritime area.
”We are pleased that the Dublin Array project has made this milestone application under the new marine planning process,” Peter Lefroy , Dublin Array Project Director, said.
”Once a Maritime Area Consent has been awarded this will enable us to formally apply for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála for Dublin Array. We expect this application to be submitted next year, but before then we are planning a further phase of virtual and in-person consultation with local communities later this year.”
The Dublin Array project will deliver renewable electricity directly into the Dublin electricity network.
At 900 MW generating capacity, the project will displace the equivalent of 1.5 million tonnes of the greenhouse gas, Carbon Dioxide, per annum and generate sufficient electricity for approximately 845,000 average Irish homes.
The Dublin Array project is expected to contribute significantly to Ireland’s climate action target of at least 5,000 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030.
The project is expected to result in an investment of approximately EUR 1 billion, creating local employment and economic benefits as well as a multi-million Euro annual community benefit fund.