The Irish government has set ambitious targets of at least 5 GW by 2030, expanding to 20 GW by 2040 and 37 GW by 2050. To support this transition, Ireland is investing heavily in grid infrastructure, streamlining maritime planning through the Maritime Area Planning Act, and advancing a pipeline of large-scale renewable energy developments across the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea.

Several offshore wind projects in Ireland are now progressing through planning, permitting, and site investigation stages. These include the Manannán Offshore Wind Farm, Blackwater Floating Offshore Wind Farm, Codling Wind Park Offshore Wind Farm, Danu Floating Offshore Wind Farm, East Celtic Offshore Wind Farm, Dublin Array Offshore Wind Farm, and the North Irish Sea Array Offshore Wind Farm.

In this article, we examine the top upcoming offshore wind projects in Ireland, highlighting their capacities, current development status, technical specifications, timelines, and the key developers and contractors driving each project forward.

List of Top 7 Largest Offshore Wind Farm Projects in Ireland (according to capacity) 2026

Manannán Offshore Wind Farm

The Manannán Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 2 GW floating offshore wind project located in the Celtic Sea, approximately 25–50 km off the southern coast of County Wexford, Ireland. Developed by Ørsted (following the initial development by Galetech Group), the project forms part of Ireland's South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP). 

Unlike conventional offshore wind farms, Manannán is primarily intended to support Power-to-X applications, with electricity used to produce green hydrogen rather than being supplied directly to the national grid.

Technical Specifications

The project is planned with a total installed capacity of 2 GW, to be developed in two 1 GW phases using floating offshore wind technology suitable for the deeper waters of the Celtic Sea. The renewable electricity generated will be dedicated primarily to green hydrogen production, supporting Ireland's long-term decarbonization and renewable energy objectives under the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy.

Current Status

Manannán is currently in the early development and planning phase. The project has been designated as Maritime Area C under the South Coast DMAP, alongside the Tonn Nua, Li Ban, and Danu offshore wind zones, following approval by the Irish Oireachtas. 

Public and stakeholder consultations have commenced, while future offshore wind lease auctions and environmental assessments will determine the next stages of development. Commercial operation is currently targeted for the mid-2030s.

Key Contractors

Blackwater Floating Offshore Wind Farm

The Blackwater Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 1.5 GW floating offshore wind project planned off the south-east coast of County Wexford, Ireland. Developed by Blackwater Offshore Wind Ltd (OWL), a joint venture between Cobra Instalaciones y Servicios and Flotation Energy, the project will utilize floating wind technology to harness the strong wind resources found in deeper waters. 

Once operational, it is expected to become one of Ireland's largest floating offshore wind developments and support the country's target of 20 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

Technical Specifications

The project will have a planned installed capacity of 1,500 MW (1.5 GW) using floating offshore wind turbines mounted on buoyant platforms secured by mooring lines and anchors. This technology enables deployment in deeper offshore waters where fixed-bottom foundations are not feasible, allowing access to stronger and more consistent wind resources while reducing visual impact from the coastline.

Current Status

Blackwater Floating Offshore Wind Farm is currently in the early development and planning phase. The project will require approvals under Ireland's Maritime Area Planning (MAP) Act and the National Marine Planning Framework (NMPF) before construction can proceed. Subject to regulatory approvals and grid connection agreements, the developers are targeting commercial operation by 2030.

Key contractors

Codling Wind Park

The Codling Wind Park is a proposed 1.3 GW offshore wind project located in the Irish Sea, approximately 13-22 km off the coast of County Wicklow, Ireland. Developed as a 50:50 joint venture between EDF Power Solutions and Fred. 

Olsen Seawind, the project is expected to become one of Ireland's largest offshore wind farms, generating enough renewable electricity to power more than one million homes while supporting the country's offshore wind targets.

Technical Specifications

The wind farm will have an installed capacity of up to 1,300 MW (1.3 GW) and occupy an offshore area of approximately 125 sq km around the Codling Bank. The current design includes 60 to 75 offshore wind turbines, each with a maximum rated capacity of 16 MW. The project also includes offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure to connect the generated electricity to Ireland's national grid.

Current Status

Codling Wind Park is currently in the pre-construction and permitting phase. The project submitted its planning application to An Bord Pleanála in September 2024. Geotechnical site investigations, including cone penetration testing and vibrocore sampling, are scheduled between August and September 2026 to support foundation and engineering design. 

Subject to planning approval, construction is expected to commence in line with Ireland's target of delivering 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

Key contractors

Danu Floating Offshore Wind Farm

The Danu Floating Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed floating offshore wind project located in the Celtic Sea, more than 95 km off the south-east coast of Ireland. Covering an area of approximately 430 sq km, the project forms part of Ireland's South Coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) and is one of four strategic offshore wind development zones supporting the country's long-term renewable energy and offshore wind expansion.

Technical Specifications

The project will utilize floating offshore wind technology, enabling turbines to be installed in deep-water locations beyond the reach of conventional fixed-bottom foundations. Floating turbines will be mounted on buoyant platforms secured by mooring lines and anchors, allowing major components to be assembled in port before being towed offshore. 

The project site is located entirely outside Ireland's 12-nautical-mile territorial waters, making floating technology the preferred solution for development.

Current Status

Danu Floating Offshore Wind Farm is currently in the pre-construction and site evaluation phase. Environmental surveys and site investigations commenced in 2021 and have continued alongside stakeholder engagement and fisheries liaison activities. 

The project is progressing under Ireland's South Coast DMAP framework, with future development dependent on lease auctions, regulatory approvals, environmental assessments, and financial close. Construction is expected to require 2–4 years once all approvals are secured.

Key contractors

East Celtic Offshore Wind Farm

The East Celtic Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 900 MW offshore wind project located in the Celtic Sea, approximately 9-36 km off the coasts of Counties Wexford and Waterford, Ireland. Developed by RWE Renewables Ireland East Celtic Limited, the project was acquired from Western Power Offshore Holdings and is expected to play a key role in Ireland's next phase of offshore wind deployment.

Technical Specifications

The project is planned with an installed capacity of up to 900 MW across an offshore development area of approximately 389.73 sq km. Depending on final site conditions and water depths, the wind farm is expected to utilize a combination of fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind technologies. 

Final turbine selection, foundation design, and electrical infrastructure will be determined following ongoing site investigations and environmental assessments.

Current Status

East Celtic Offshore Wind Farm is currently in the pre-construction and site investigation phase. The project is progressing through Ireland's Foreshore Licence process to undertake geotechnical, geophysical, and environmental surveys that will support the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and future planning application. The development is also targeting inclusion in Ireland's Phase 2 offshore wind development programme.

Key Contractors

Dublin Array Offshore Wind

The Dublin Array Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed 824 MW offshore wind project located on the Kish and Bray Banks, approximately 10 km off the coasts of Dublin and Wicklow, Ireland. 

Developed through a joint venture between RWE and Saorgus Energy, the project is one of Ireland's most advanced offshore wind developments and is expected to supply renewable electricity to hundreds of thousands of homes while supporting the country's offshore wind ambitions.

Technical Specifications

The wind farm will have an installed capacity of up to 824 MW and is expected to comprise 39 to 50 offshore wind turbines, each with a capacity exceeding 15 MW. Turbine tip heights are planned to range between 270 m and 310 m, with foundations installed in water depths of approximately 20 m. Offshore export cables will connect the project to the onshore electricity network through grid infrastructure at locations including Shanganagh.

Current Status

Dublin Array is currently in the planning and consent phase. The project secured a Maritime Area Consent (MAC) and a grid connection through Ireland's ORESS 1 auction before submitting its planning application to An Bord Pleanála in February 2025. 

Major engineering and construction packages remain under procurement, with construction targeted to begin around 2027, subject to planning approval and a final investment decision. Commercial operations are expected by 2030.

Key Contractors

North Irish Sea Array (NISA)

The North Irish Sea Array (NISA) is a proposed 500 MW offshore wind farm located in the Irish Sea, approximately 17 km off the coasts of Dublin, Meath, and Louth, Ireland. The project is being jointly developed by Statkraft and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power around 500,000 Irish homes, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Technical Specifications

The project will have an installed capacity of up to 500 MW and is expected to comprise 35 to 49 offshore wind turbines with tip heights ranging from 290 m to 316 m and rotor diameters between 250 m and 276 m. The turbines will be supported by jacket foundations with suction bucket technology, replacing the previously proposed monopile design. 

The electrical infrastructure will include one offshore substation platform, approximately 18 km of 220 kV HVAC export cables, and 91-111 km of inter-array cables operating at 66 kV or 132 kV. The wind farm is designed for an operational lifespan of approximately 35 years.

Current Status

North Irish Sea Array is currently in the permitting and pre-construction phase. The planning application was submitted in 2024, with additional information provided to An Coimisiún Pleanála during 2026 to support the ongoing consent process. Subject to planning approval and final investment decisions, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with commercial operations targeted between 2029 and 2031.

Key Contractors

Conclusion

Ireland's offshore wind sector is moving from policy ambition to project execution. The country is building a strong pipeline that supports its long-term renewable energy and decarbonization goals with multiple utility-scale developments advancing through planning and environmental approvals. Continued investment in grid infrastructure, regulatory reforms, and floating offshore wind technology will be essential to bringing these projects into operation over the coming decade.

This article has highlighted some of the most significant upcoming offshore wind projects in Ireland, including their locations, capacities, development status, and major stakeholders. As these projects progress toward construction, they are expected to create new opportunities for developers, EPC contractors, turbine manufacturers, marine service providers, and supply chain companies while accelerating Ireland's transition to a low-carbon energy system.

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