The seven wind turbines that have stood at the Arklow offshore wind farm for more than two decades could be removed under plans now before An Coimisiún Pleanála.
An application has been submitted by Arklow Energy Limited (AEL) seeking permission to decommission Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase I, located on the Arklow Bank in the Irish Sea, approximately 10km off the Wicklow coast.
The seven-turbine Phase I development was constructed between 2003 and 2004 and became Ireland’s first operational offshore wind farm. It has an installed capacity of approximately 25.2MW.
Now, AEL is seeking permission to dismantle and remove the offshore infrastructure, as well as the associated infrastructure at Arklow Harbour.
The application would see all seven wind turbine generators permanently de-energised before their components are dismantled and removed. This would include the removal of the turbine rotors and blades, nacelles, towers, the upper section of the meteorological mast,the triangular platform associated with the mast, the transition pieces connecting the turbines and mast to their foundations, the monopiles supporting the structures, and residual scour protection around the foundations.
The application also proposes the removal of the underwater cabling associated with the wind farm. Approximately 7.4km of inter-array cables would be unburied, cut and removed, along with approximately 15.6km of offshore export cable running towards the landfall at Arklow. Dredging would be required in areas to facilitate removal of the monopiles.
The proposed decommissioning isn’t limited to the turbines offshore. The existing onshore substation on North Quay in Arklow Harbour would also be dismantled and removed.
The plans include removing the building and its internal equipment, removing cooling oil from the transformer and transporting it to a licensed waste facility, and removing other associated infrastructure.
The onshore cable between the landfall and the substation would also be permanently removed. Once the work is completed, the proposal includes clearing, levelling and reinstating the site.
AEL says the infrastructure has reached the end of its operating life and that the condition of the ageing structures is becoming an increasing concern.
In documentation submitted with the application, the company says its priority is to ensure that the existing infrastructure does not pose a risk to people, vessels or marine life. AEL says it commissioned an engineering review examining the probability and timeline of failure of the ageing infrastructure.
According to the company’s application, preliminary results indicate that degradation is expected to increase significantly beyond 2027.
The applicant says that leaving the infrastructure in place as it deteriorates could increase the risk of debris falling into the sea, potentially creating a collision hazard for vessels and the possibility of debris reaching the coast.
In October 2022, one of the seven GE 3.6 MW turbines caught fire and suffered catastrophic destruction after being struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm.
It also raises concerns about potential pollution from deteriorating infrastructure. These are the applicant’s stated reasons for seeking decommissioning, rather than a finding by An Coimisiún Pleanála.
The proposed removal would mark the end of an unusual chapter in Arklow’s relationship with offshore wind. The seven turbines were constructed in 2003 and 2004 and have remained the country’s first and, for many years, only operational offshore wind farm.
The turbines are also closely associated with the much larger Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 proposal.
Planning documentation for that project identifies the existing Phase I infrastructure and notes that a decommissioning application has been progressed by Arklow Energy Limited.
The Phase II project is a separate planning process and should not be confused with this application to remove the existing seven turbines.
AEL is seeking permission for the decommissioning works up to 19th June 2033, aligning with the duration of its foreshore sub-lease.
However, the applicant says that, if the necessary consent can be obtained during the first half of 2027, it could potentially carry out the offshore works during 2028. That timetable is dependent on planning consent and the subsequent arrangements required to carry out the work.
The application has been submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála. Anyone wishing to make a submission or observation on the application has until 5.30pm on 20th November 2026.
For people in Arklow, the proposal could eventually mean a very noticeable change to a familiar part of the town’s coastline. The seven turbines have been visible offshore since the early 2000’s and have become part of Arklow’s identity as a town with a long connection to the sea and renewable energy.
If approved and carried out, the proposed works would remove not only the turbines but also the associated offshore cables and the existing onshore substation infrastructure.
