Irish utility ESB and its Belgian partner Parkwind have announced they will halt further surveys related to their 500MW Clogherhead offshore wind project, located off the east coast of Ireland. This decision follows the Irish government's ongoing process of identifying areas suitable for offshore wind development as part of the Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP).
The developers stated that while they await more policy clarity on site selection, they would not conduct additional surveys. This pause is part of the government's plan-led approach to offshore wind deployment.
However, the project will not be fully suspended; instead, it is expected to be shelved from 2025, with future options differing from the original business case being considered in the meantime.
To date, ESB and Parkwind have completed environmental assessments and offshore surveys, including geophysical and MetOcean studies, for the Clogherhead project. They maintain that the selected site off the County Louth coast is “optimally suited” for delivering offshore wind power to Ireland. However, the project's foreshore licence for preliminary survey work and site investigation studies expired in July, adding to the uncertainty surrounding its future.
