27-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Progress made on offshore wind plans as surveys on Wexford beaches begin
EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland's electricity grid, will begin the surveys, conducted by Fugro, this month, and are expected to be completed by September 2025.
Engagement is ongoing between councils, local communities, and landowners with EirGrid in relation to these works as some of the landfall surveys are on private lands, however surveys are also scheduled on public beaches at potential landfall locations. The beaches where non-intrusive surveys will take place are Ballycroneen and Ballycrenane in County Cork and Carnivan, Long Gap and Blackhall Beach in County Wexford.
These surveys will enable progress on EirGrid's Powering Up Offshore - South Coast project, which aims to deliver the grid transmission infrastructure needed to connect 900 MW of offshore wind generation to onshore grid connection points along Ireland's south coast.
Fugro will perform comprehensive geophysical, geotechnical, environmental and metocean surveys within Maritime Area A, or Tonn Nua of the Irish Government's South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan, as well as intertidal, non-intrusive landfall investigations involving geophysical and environmental surveys.
Ahead of the beginning of the survey works, the Chief Transformation and Technology Officer at EirGrid, Liam Ryan said: 'These surveys are key for assessing seabed conditions, soil properties, and environmental impacts across the landfall, intertidal, nearshore, and offshore zones related to cable corridors for the project.
"The insights gained as a result of this work will play a key role in informing plans for the installation of the transmission infrastructure for offshore wind energy and will guide how EirGrid progress the project in a way that is best for our marine ecosystem and local communities.'
Powering Up Offshore – South Coast is an integral part of the Irish Government's climate action plan targets to expand Ireland's renewable energy capacity to 80 percent renewable energy, including at least 5 GW of offshore wind energy.
For more information about the Powering Up Offshore - South Coast project visit
