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.

EirGrid is also leading the secure transition of the electricity grid to a sustainable low-carbon future.

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.

The Government of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2023 places offshore wind power at the centre of the state’s commitment to producing up to 80% of our energy from renewable sources by 2030.

As part of Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future, EirGrid plans to develop offshore electricity substations and associated undersea electricity cables. This new infrastructure will bring the power generated by offshore windfarms into our national electricity grid.

 

To achieve this we will need to develop:

• An offshore substation off the coast of Waterford or Wexford.
• An offshore substation off the coast of Cork.
• A connection between the offshore substations and existing substations onshore. This will involve undersea and underground electricity cables.
• New substations near to existing substations onshore.

 

This will help deliver up to 900 megawatts of additional electricity - enough to power almost one million homes with clean energy. This new electricity will be generated by offshore wind farms in Irish waters.

Read our brochure to see the most up to date information on this project:

Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future - September 2023
Dul i bhFeidhm ar ár bhFuinneamh Amach ón gCósta san Am atá le Teacht - Aibreán 2023

Learn more about EirGrid's role in connecting Offshore Renewable Energy

May 2023

We have now lodged two foreshore licence applications in the Cork and Waterford/Wexford areas with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The Department will upload details of the applications to their website in due course.

The licences seek approval for EirGrid to carry out site investigations including marine environmental surveys within the identified offshore study areas.

These studies will help inform appropriate locations for the necessary offshore infrastructure that we have identified:

• An offshore substation off the coast of Waterford or Wexford.

• An offshore substation off the coast of Cork.

• A connection between the offshore substations and existing substations onshore. This will involve undersea and underground electricity cables.

Details of the licence applications may be viewed on the Departments website once they are uploaded (gov.ie - Foreshore applications (www.gov.ie)).

 

April 2023

We are now starting the rollout of our offshore engagement plan across coastal communities in Cork, Waterford and south Wexford. This involves raising awareness of our plans, engaging with stakeholders and aiming for public consultation in early 2024.

No decisions have been made on where the offshore substations will be located or how and where they will connect to the national electricity grid onshore. We are currently undertaking studies to determine what options are available and we will share these during the upcoming consultation period. Extensive consultation and engagement will take place. Your input, along with our studies, will guide decisions made on what options to proceed with.

Currently, we are also applying for marine licences to undertake marine surveys to help inform decisions in relation to this programme.

We will be engaging with all impacted marine stakeholders as we embark on this phase of our programme of works and will continue to do so as we progress.

Offshore study area

The offshore study area is the marine area where we are undertaking initial assessments and studies in relation to the electricity infrastructure required for Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future. Given the nature of the programme, we have identified relatively large study areas. These will be narrowed down as this programme progresses and following stakeholder feedback.

 

Cork Offshore Study Area

The offshore study area here extends from Ringroe (near O’Rahilly View) to Youghal and extends out towards to the 12 nautical mile (NM) boundary (around 22 kilometres from shore).

Waterford and Wexford Offshore Study Area

The offshore study area here extends from Ballinacourty and Clonea in Co. Waterford to Cullenstown Beach in Co. Wexford and extends out towards to the 12 nautical mile (NM) boundary (around 22 kilometres from shore).

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs) within the offshore study areas

The identified study areas include a number of ecologically and environmentally sensitive areas, including Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs); these are prevalent along the Irish coastline, estuaries and foreshore areas of Cork, Waterford and Wexford. EirGrid is aware of these areas, and is committed to their ongoing protection in the development of necessary offshore grid infrastructure. This will primarily occur by avoiding these environmentally sensitive areas in the routing and siting of projects, and where avoidance is not possible, by ensuring that all site investigations and subsequent construction works are carried out in accordance with best practice for environmental protection and enhancement.

South Coast DMAP proposal

The South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) Proposal, published by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in July 2023, puts forward an initial ‘proposed’ geographical area within which future offshore renewable energy development may take place, including EirGrid study areas. The geographical area of this initial proposal is approximately 8,600 square kilometres in size.

As approved by Government and the Oireachtas, all future offshore wind development in Ireland will take place according to a strategic, sustainable and plan-led approach.

What this means in practice is that the State, in cooperation with local communities and with consideration for other maritime activities including fishing and seafood production, and with provisions for environmental protection, will determine the appropriate location for offshore wind developments.

Following an initial eight-week public information period carried out by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and environmental impact assessments and analysis to assess its suitability for offshore renewable energy development, a ‘Draft DMAP’ will then be published, which will identify specific areas for future offshore renewable energy development.

The Draft DMAP will then undergo a further six-week statutory public consultation period, before the Draft DMAP is presented to the Minister for Housing and both houses of the Oireachtas for approval.

Email: southcoastoffshore@EirGrid.ie

Contact our Community Liaison Officer:

As part of EirGrid’s public engagement strategy for a cleaner energy future and to fulfil our commitment to putting citizens at the heart of our decision making, we establish a community forum with all of our infrastructural projects to ensure communities are heard and supported at every step of the journey.

We know that there will be considerable interest in this offshore grid infrastructure programme. With this in mind, we are setting up a South Coast Offshore Community Forum to communicate, consult and engage with local residents and businesses across the region. Depending on the level of interest, we will discuss with communities the merits of setting up a forum in multiple areas.

If your organisation is interested in getting involved in this forum, please email southcoastoffshore@eirgrid.ie.

To help maximise economic and social opportunities in relation to the development of this new infrastructure, we will be coordinating with other state bodies, local authorities, education institutions, business representatives and community development organisations through a new South Coast Offshore Infrastructure Forum. This forum will be independently chaired.