Plans for offshore wind energy in Wicklow run into the sand
Offshore wind turbines that can generate electricity at massive scale are touted as one of the solutions to our runaway energy demand.
But campaigners in Arklow, Co Wicklow, believe plans to locate a large windfarm on a local sandbank, just 6km off the coast, pose a major threat to beaches across Wicklow and Wexford, with additional concerns over the visual impact.
The South East Coastal Protection Alliance (SECPA) believes proposals from SSE Renewables to erect up to 56 super-sized wind turbines along the coast will have a detrimental impact on the 27km-long sandbank that runs parallel to the coast.
The sandbank provides protection for the beaches and towns along the shore, sheltering them from storms and Atlantic swells that can cause flooding.
If the installation goes ahead, SSE Renewables will be looking to deliver commercial-scale offshore wind at Arklow Bank. The site has been in use for 20 years, since the first seven turbines were installed at the site. It is Ireland’s first and only operational offshore windfarm.
At about 287 metres tall, the proposed turbines will be nearly as tall as the Eiffel Tower. The proposals would see 2.6 million tonnes of solid matter being poured onto the sandbank, effectively levelling an area of 986 acres.
SECPA says the erosion of specific areas of coastline, particularly the southern end of Brittas Bay beach, suggests the existing seven turbines – less than 125m tall and sited 13km from shore, have already had a targeted detrimental effect. The group wants the new turbines sited away from the sandbank and farther out to sea, at least 22km from shore.
“By revising the location, we can all benefit from Ireland’s commitment to renewable energy and preserve the outstanding natural beauty of our beaches and sand dunes,” a spokesperson for SECPA said.
“The Arklow sandbank is listed under Annex 1 of the EU Habitats Directive, as it is intrinsically linked to the well-being and survival of hundreds of species of wildlife.”
SSE says an environmental impact assessment report addresses many of the issues raised.
The cumulative impact has received little consideration
In April 2025, An Bord Pleanála (ABP) asked developers of windfarms in the Irish Sea to revise their planning applications to consider “the cumulative effect of other similar wind farms proposed for the Irish Sea”.
The request, sent to the developers of the Oriel, Arklow and North Irish Sea windfarms on April 17, is likely to have a significant impact, especially if it is extended to the Codling and Dublin Array wind farms.
When completed, Codling and Dublin Array would form a 33km line of wind turbines from Dún Laoghaire to Wicklow town.
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In a submission on a planning application for the Dublin Array, former chairman of Wicklow County Council Derek Mitchell said the application did not show a map of the proposed neighbouring Codling. Mr Mitchell said, “the cumulative impact has received little consideration”.
Arklow Bank has a capacity of just 25MW. The State’s long-term ambition for offshore renewable energy in Ireland, the Future Framework, aims to deliver 20GW of offshore wind energy by 2040 and at least 37GW in total by 2050 – almost 1,500 times more than the existing capacity.
The conflict between the demand for clean energy and the environment it is meant to preserve is sure to continue.