Key consent sought for €2bn offshore wind project

The €2 billion Codling Wind Park is seeking a key planning consent that will help pave the way for the offshore electricity generator to begin development.

European energy giants EDF and Fred Olsen are jointly investing at least €2 billion in Codling Wind Park, an offshore power plant in the Irish Sea capable of supplying electricity to up to 1.2 million homes.

The project has applied to the Government for a Maritime Area Consent, a key step in the offshore planning process.

If Codling gets the consent, it can apply to An Bord Pleanála for planning permission. The move will also allow it to bid in Renewable Energy Support Scheme auctions, which offer guarranteed prices for electricity supplied by wind farms.

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Meanwhile, its backers EDF Renewables and Fred Olsen Seawind, have appointed Thomas Gellert and Scott Sutherland as joint directors.

They will replace Arno Verbeek, who is continuing as a senior advisor to the project’s partners.

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Mr Gellert is senior vice-president of project execution at Fred Olsen Seawind. Mr Sutherland is head of offshore wind at EDF Renewables.

A statement said that EDF and Fred Olsen would become more “directly involved in the day-to-day running of what is a strategically important project for both companies”.

Both joint directors described the Republic as “important” to their respective companies. Mr Gellert said Codling was Fred Olsen’s flagship project here.

Mr Sutherland pledged that they would focus on getting the development through the renewables auction and planning.