Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 January 2026
346. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the position regarding the decommissioning of a wind farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74744/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment his plans to replace the level of energy output from a wind farm (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74745/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.
Government is committed to having 5 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity in development by 2030, with a longer-range target of 20 gigawatts by 2040.
Five offshore wind projects off our East coast, with planned capacity of 3.8 gigawatts, are presently in development, with planning determinations anticipated by the end of 2026.
One of these five projects is the Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 and it is the second phase of development at the Arklow Bank site. The original Arklow Bank Wind Farm was constructed in 2003/2004 and consisted of seven turbines with a capacity of 25.2 MW. The new Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 project will have a maximum export capacity of 800 MW once completed, greatly exceeding the energy generated by the original project. Subject to planning consent, I anticipate that the Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 site will be in construction by 2030 and operational by 2031/32.
I am advised that a planning application was submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in 2025 to decommission the old Arklow Bank site. The decommissioning is necessary as it has reached the end of its operating life and to allow space for the construction of the new wind farm.
