DP Energy plans 700 MW Inis Ealga floating wind project off the coast of Cork and Waterford

DP Energy has plans to develop a 700 MW floating wind project in Ireland. The Inis Ealga Site is approximately 54 km in width stretching from Dungarvan, County Waterford to Cork Harbour, County Cork. The site occupies an area of 925 km2 and is located approximately 7.5 km south of Power Head, County Cork and approximately 26 km south of Helvick Head, County Waterford.

Depths within the Inis Ealga Site range from 50 to 80 meters. The site is dominated by muddy sand, except the eastern section with sand and the western section with rock, mixed sediment, and sand. For the most part, water flows along the southern Irish coast coming north from France and flowing in a southwesterly direction along the southern coast.

DP Energy has submitted a Foreshore Site Investigation Application to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG). DP Energy responded to DHPLG queries and submitted an updated application and associated reports to DHPLG on 20th December 2019.

For the initial electrical design, it is planned that the offshore floating devices will be connected via 38 kV or 66kV subsea inter-array cables, connected in radial strings. These strings will then be connected to an offshore platform with associated switchgear and protection systems and converted to 110 kV, 220 kV or 275 kV to export the power onshore. The Inis Eagla farm will then connect to an existing Eirgrid substation, via underground or overhead lines, depending on further assessment including any planning and land restrictions in the area.