The Project
Project Location
The wind farm would be located to the east of the shallow sand bank known as Codling Bank, approximately 13 kilometres off the east coast of Ireland, between Greystones and Wicklow. Water depths at the site range between 9 and 16m and the closest towns of Kilcoole and Greystones are situated some 14.8 km from the wind farm area and Wicklow situated 17 km to the southwest respectively. The distance to the Wylfa/Caernarfon sub-stations in Wales is around 100km. The site location can be seen below:
The 220 turbines would be arrayed in a grid pattern with the overall layout in the form of a block extending perpendicular to the coastline. The layout comprises 14 rows, which lie in a northwest / southeast direction, each row is separated by 600 m. Turbines within rows are separated by 450 m.
Codling Foreshore Lease
The Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural and Resources granted a Foreshore Lease to Codling Wind Park Limited on 15 November 2005, under Section 2 of the Foreshore Act, 1933. The Lease is valid for a term of 99 years and covers the following:
- "Constructing, installing or locating the Facilities;
- Operating the Facilities as a wind farm to generate electricity;
- Maintaining, inspecting, testing, repairing or replacing all or any of the facilities; and
- Carrying out works which are necessary or incidental to the activities described above".
The 'Facilities' as defined under the Lease means "220 electricity generating wind turbines, including foundations and necessary associated works, 1 substation, helicopter pad or helicopter pads (if required) and all cables associated with the wind farm, or any of them, and includes any Facilities under construction."