EirGrid.

ie/offshore

Shaping
Our Offshore
Energy Future

We’re harnessing the power of wind to make

Ireland more energy independent
EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future

2
Table of Contents

Background information on this programme 5

Visit a public information event  10

Take part in an Offshore Energy Citizen Roadshow event 11

Join the South Coast Community Forum for residents 11

and businesses

Read our questions and answers section  14

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EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future

Who are EirGrid

and what do we do?
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.

Strong electricity grid infrastructure supports the development of our

society and economy. But just as importantly, work carried out now to
improve the grid will help to create a more sustainable energy 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.

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What is Shaping The Government of Ireland’s Climate Action
Plan 2023 places offshore wind power at the
• A connection between the offshore
substations and existing substations

Our Offshore centre of the state’s commitment to producing

up to 80% of our energy from renewable
onshore. This will involve undersea and
underground electricity cables; and

Energy Future? sources by 2030. • New substations near to existing

The south coast (Cork, Waterford and Wexford)
has a key role in Ireland’s offshore energy
future, a greener power grid and energy
independence.
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.
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.

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;
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.

Figure 1: Typical configuration of offshore grid Onshore

O�shore features and how it connects to the onshore grid. Substation
Substation

To The Grid
EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future
Why is this programme
needed?
This programme will help reduce Ireland’s
dependence on fossil fuels such as coal and gas
and increase Ireland’s energy independence.
To achieve this, we need to connect offshore
renewable energy to the electricity grid.
Offshore renewable energy will lay the
foundation for significant direct and
indirect social and economic benefits and
opportunities, regionally and nationally.
What is happening now?
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 the autumn of 2023.
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 when they
are complete in the autumn of 2023. 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.
What benefits will this
programme bring?

Security and reliability Meet future needs

of supply As our society and economy develops, we are consuming
more electricity. This programme will help to meet that
Building a more resilient and reliable electricity grid helps
growing demand without increasing our carbon footprint.
ensure that everyone has power when and where they
need it. This programme will also enable greater energy
independence by generating more renewable energy
locally.
Economic
This critical programme will help strengthen the
economy across the south coast region, encouraging and

Sustainability supporting industry investment with the accessibility of a

strong electricity grid.

Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future will enable homes

and businesses across the south-east and the island
of Ireland to use electricity generated from offshore
Social and community
renewable energy. This is a vital step to help Ireland
Our community benefit policy will also directly support
transition to a low carbon electricity future.
local communities in the areas that host the programme
infrastructure.

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 W A T E R F O R D Fin
isk

EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future B ri d e

Brick

C O R K
ey
Gla

oy
sha

ab
bo N25

n
y

Gle
Offshore
Study Area M8 Clashmore
Lic
ky

Ma r tin
N25
Tourig

K i lt
The offshore study area is the marine area

a
Owena
curra
where we are undertaking initial assessments N20 Killeagh Youghal
Ardmore
and studies in relation to the electricity Carrigtwohill Midleton N25
agh

infrastructure required for Shaping Our CORK CITY N25 an

m
Wo
N40
Offshore Energy Future. Given the nature of N22
N40

the programme, we have identified relatively N27

N28
Ballymacoda

large study areas. These will be narrowed down N71

Cobh
Cloyne
Garryvoe
as this programme progresses and following N28
Whitegate Shanagarry
stakeholder feedback.
O w e n b oy
Carrigaline Churchtown South Ballycotton

Crosshaven

Cork Offshore Study Area

Stick

Roches Point

The offshore study area here extends from

Ringroe (near O’Rahilly View) to Youghal and 68,461-ha
Roberts Cove
extends out towards to the 12 nautical mile
(NM) boundary (around 22 kilometres from Kinsale O'Rahilly View

shore).

Legend
Offshore Study Area

8 National and Motorway Roads

12 NM Boundary
 Cl
as
h

r
Anne
aw
ley
mounty
Poll

Legend

Arrigle
Offshore Study Area

Po
llan
a ss
a
National and Motorway Roads
Aughnag laur
M9 12 NM Boundary

Waterford and Wexford Offshore

Study Area Pi N25
N25

l
a
sh

Barrow

w
N24

The offshore study area here extends from

Gla

To m garro
Black
Water
Ballinacourty and Clonea in Co. Waterford to M9
N25

Cullenstown Beach in Co. Wexford and extendsNier Dougla

s
gh
Clodia

out towards to the 12 nautical mile (NM)

ck
ro
N24

Co
boundary (around 22 kilometres from shore). Ire N25 N29
Ca
mp
ile
W E X F O R D
W A T E R F O R D WATERFORD
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) CITY
Passage East

and Special Protected Areas (SPAs)

N25
wn
Da

Kilmacthomas Duncannon
within the offshore study areas
Saltmills
n
Colliga

Cullenstown

Ma
The identified study areas include a number

ho
Lemybrien

n
Dallig Fethard
n a

of ecologically and environmentally sensitive

Tay
areas, W A TSpecial
E RAreasF O R D
N25 Tramore
including of Conservation DUNGARVAN Stradbally
Bunmahon
Annestown Dunmore East

(SACs) and Special Protected Areas (SPAs);

these are prevalent along the Irish coastline, Clonea
Hook Head

estuaries and foreshore areas of Cork,Brick

ey

Waterford and Wexford. EirGrid is aware of N25

Ceann
these areas, and is committed to their ongoing Heilbhic

protection in the development of necessary

offshore grid infrastructure. This will primarily
occur by avoiding these environmentally 120,745-ha
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.
EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future

Find out more and get involved Public information events

All information about this project is available at eirgrid.ie/offshore. Visit one of our face-to-face public information events being held across
We can also post you a copy of information. the study area to find out more and speak to experts within the team.

Please request this by contacting one of our community liaison officers.

See page 12 for contact details. Venue Date Time

The Park Hotel,

6 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Dungarvan

Garryvoe Hotel,
7 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Garryvoe, Co. Cork

St Mary’s Community
12 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Hall, Fethard, Co. Wexford

Walter Raleigh Hotel in

14 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Youghal, Co. Cork

The Majestic Hotel,

15 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Tramore, Co. Waterford

Cobh Community Centre,

20 June 2023 12pm to 8pm
Cobh, Co. Cork

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Offshore Energy Citizens Roadshow South Coast Offshore Community Forum

events 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
Join EirGrid, and our panel of experts at our upcoming Offshore Energy
infrastructural projects to ensure communities are heard and supported
Citizen Roadshows where you will discover more about:
at every step of the journey.

• the future of the electricity grid,

We know that there will be considerable interest in this offshore grid
• microgeneration such as selling your excess solar panel electricity
infrastructure programme. With this in mind, we are setting up a South
back to the grid,
Coast Offshore Community Forum to communicate, consult and engage
• sustainable energy communities, home energy upgrades, and
with local residents and businesses across the region. Depending on the
• the regional development opportunities associated with the energy
level of interest, we will discuss with communities the merits of setting
transition.
up a forum in multiple areas.

Attendance is open to all, please register online at eirgrid.ie/offshore or

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

Venue Date Time South Coast Offshore Infrastructure Forum

To help maximise economic and social opportunities in relation to the
Carrigaline Court Hotel, development of this new infrastructure, we will be coordinating with
21 June 2023 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Carrigaline, Co. Cork other state bodies, local authorities, education institutions, business
representatives and community development organisations through
The Tower Hotel, a new South Coast Offshore Infrastructure Forum. This forum will be
22 June 2023 6.30pm to 8.30pm
Waterford independently chaired.

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EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future

Who can I contact?

Email: southcoastoffshore@EirGrid.ie

Contact our Community Liaison Officer:

Michelle Walsh
Community Liaison Officer
+353 85 870 4999
southcoastoffshore@EirGrid.ie

Eoghan O’Sullivan
Community Liaison Officer
+353 87 247 7732
southcoastoffshore@EirGrid.ie

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13
EirGrid - Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future
Frequently asked
questions
What does grid infrastructure mean?
The electricity grid links energy users such as schools, businesses,
homes and farms with energy generators. It is designed to ensure
that power can flow freely to where it is needed.
Grid infrastructure is the physical structures which make up the
transmission grid. These include the underground cables and
overhead lines used to transmit electricity, the pylons which
hold the overhead lines, and the substations used to convert the
electrical current and raise or lower the voltage of that current.
To date, this infrastructure has been predominantly located on
land. However, with the Shaping Our Offshore Energy Future, we
will be extending this out to sea as we look to develop our offshore
grid infrastructure (offshore substations and marine cables).
What are the Government Offshore Wind
Development plans?
The Government Policy Statement on the Framework for Phase
Two Offshore Wind targets at least 5 GW of offshore wind to be
delivered onto the electricity grid by 2030. In addition to this, the
policy targets a further 2 GW of floating offshore wind being in
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development by 2030. The 5 GW programme will be referred to as
Phase 2 with the 2 GW called Phase 3.
What’s happening this autumn?
This autumn we will be publishing more detailed information on
the programme. Over the coming months we will be progressing
the technical and environmental assessments. In the autumn we
will have developed a shortlist of a number of different possible
locations for the onshore and offshore infrastructure.
We will publish this information and be consulting with you on this
for your feedback. We will provide a number of location options for:
• Offshore substations,
• Landfall (these are locations along the coast where the
submarine cables will come ashore),
• Grid connection (the points on the existing grid where the
offshore power will connect),
• Onshore substations.
Is EirGrid a wind farm developer?
No, EirGrid is not a wind farm developer. As the developer of
Ireland’s electricity grid, EirGrid is responsible for connecting
power generated from renewable sources like offshore wind to the
grid, for use by homes and businesses around the country.
EirGrid does not install power generation infrastructure (such as
wind turbines), which is constructed by private developers. As part
of this programme, EirGrid will provide the infrastructure needed
to connect power generated from wind turbines to the electricity Under the current model which is known as Phase 1, these projects
grid, including offshore substations, undersea cables and onshore will develop all the associated grid infrastructure that is required to
substations. connect to the existing grid.

Why are EirGrid focusing on the south coast? West coast

There is one project in development on the west coast
The area of the south coast identified is suitable to connect
(Connemara) that will also participate in the ORESS 1 auction.
wind power developments to the electricity grid, with onshore
connection points available near potential offshore development
locations.

The targeted placement of offshore substations will ensure that

the development of wind energy off the south coast proceeds
in a plan-led manner. This seeks to make sure local community
and stakeholder feedback and best practice environmental
requirements will guide the location of offshore infrastructure
ensuring it is built in the most suitable location.

What is happening in the east coast and

west coast?
East coast
There are currently five relevant projects in development along the
east coast (Dundalk to Arklow). Similar to how onshore renewable
energy projects are developed, these projects will participate in
the first auction for offshore wind under the Renewable Electricity
Support Scheme (ORESS 1), with successful projects progressing
to planning permission application stage.

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Dublin 4, D04 FW28
01 627 1700 | EirGrid.ie