Jera, ESB to seek planning nod for 375-MW Irish offshore wind farm

Oriel Windfarm, an offshore wind project of up to 375 MW in Ireland that is being developed by Jera Nex’s subsidiary Parkwind and ESB, will submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanala later this week, it was announced today.

To be located in the North Irish Sea off the north Co Louth coast, the 25-turbine project could become Ireland’s first operational commercial-scale offshore wind farm. The planning process is expected to take up to 12 months, with construction potentially starting 2026 and the wind farm potentially going live in 2028, the developers say.

Jera Nex is a company recently created by Japanese power company Jera. Its partner is Irish state-owned energy company ESB.

The Oriel project failed to secure state support in last year’s Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme auction, but the development has progressed and the plans now revolve around the sale of the electricity generated into the Irish electricity market.

Oriel obtained a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) in December 2022. This is a new type of formal consent that allows it to apply for planning permission to An Bord Pleanala.

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