The Project at a GLANCE
Current working design layout to include between approximately 35 and 46 turbines - indicative designs for both options are available on our Virtual Consultation Room
Produce renewable energy for Ireland's electricity grid
Will displace approximately half a million tonnes of CO2 per annum
Off the coast of Dublin, Meath and Louth
Capacity to power approx. 500,000 homes
Community Benefit Fund of approximately €4 million per annum
Potential to create high-quality jobs
Planned connection point: Belcamp Station
NISA is a Strategic Infrastructure Development which is of strategic or social importance to the local area and as such requires a direct application to An Bord Pleanála
Associated works will include turbine foundations, subsea electrical and communications cables, temporary site compounds, substations, grid systems services, underground electrical and communications cables, joint bays, grid connection and operation and maintenance facilities.
What stage is NISA at?
The NISA project is at the first Design Review Stage and the team is currently working to develop the project forward with the view to submitting a planning application in 2024.
As part of this process, and in the context of delivering the best project possible, we are still considering how NISA can deliver the most benefit and importantly in the most appropriate way. Surveys have been carried out along with consultation and technical appraisals which are now being considered and will influence how the project develops. Once this information has been incorporated into the design process, we will be in a position to advance the design layout.
Central to our design decision process is continued engagement with fishing groups in the area and consideration of how the visual impact aspect of the proposal can be improved. The space between each of the turbines will be such to allow ease of navigation for fishers and other marine users through the wind farm.
Works carried out include ongoing community engagement and both onshore and offshore survey work. These surveys allow the team to gather relevant information and will inform the design of the project. For more information on our survey work please click here.
View the Project Timeline here.
Location
The area being considered is located off the coast of Dublin, Meath and Louth. The closest potential turbine location would be 13.5km from shore. For more information on the location, please see our Location & Visuals page.
Investigating Layouts
In 2019, the project team began to work through the early-stage concept design. The layout went through a series of iterations.
In December 2019 – we applied for a foreshore licence to carry out geotechnical investigations to establish seabed conditions within the NISA area, and to determine how the layout might work on a technical basis. In June 2022, we were granted a foreshore licence to carry out the works. Surveys got underway the following month, with geophysical investigations being conducted on the site.
The results of these surveys establish the areas technically suitable/unsuitable for the location of individual turbines and as such, influence the wind farm layouts being considered.
NISA - Project Infrastructure
Offshore Design Layout
Taking a considered approach to the layout of NISA, we are incorporating the latest survey info (as outlined in our Design & Review Update) into current working design layouts, which will include between approximately 35 and 46 turbines.
Photomontage images of how the proposed project might look are now available on our Virtual Consultation Room.
Offshore Cables
Considerations of cable routing offshore include:
- Wind farm layout and landfall location
- Seabed conditions and rock outcrops
- Fishing practices in the area
- Environmental considerations including avoiding designated protected areas
- Location of marine archaeological features
- Energy efficiency considerations
Landfall location
Following a review of the coastline from Rush to Bettystown, an area north of Balbriggan has emerged as the most feasible area to bring the cables on shore.
Many factors were considered such as local appropriateness and the need to avoid disturbance to the foreshore or coastline. A decision has been taken that there will be no grid facility between the road and the coast as it would not have been visually appropriate.
Cables will come onshore under the coastline to the north of Balbriggan. While the cables will land here, their presence will be concealed due to the availability of HDD (see below for HDD technology) which removes the need to disturb the coastline.
Factors considered in this decision included available lands, fisheries, road network, existing services and geology.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Both open cut and trenchless drilling were considered in this project. Trenchless is the most appropriate option as feedback from our engagement process was that people would rather not see the coastline disturbed. We are confident that this methodology can be applied.
Onshore Grid Facility
A grid facility will be required in the area as part of the infrastructure needed as part of this project. A decision has been taken not to have any infrastructure between the road and the coast. Therefore, this facility will be located to the west of the road R132. This is required not only to facilitate the transmission of the electricity from the wind farm to the connection point, but it will also strengthen the electricity grid in this area.
Cable Route
A cable route from the north of Balbriggan to the connection point at Belcamp is now being considered. Our assessments to date have taken account of several different factors including:
- Future road upgrades
- Impacts of traffic management during construction
- Existing services
- Active Travel initiatives – possibility of creating cycle paths as part of the reinstatement works
- Environmental consideration
- Existing infrastructure
How this might work best is still being refined, but we envisage a route which would go around the north of Balbriggan, follow local roads wide enough to minimise the need for closures, cross under the M1 and arrive at Belcamp.
The grid connection point will be at Belcamp, which is a facility on the national grid with great connectivity and capacity. We are engaging with Eirgrid to determine what, if any, further infrastructure will be required here.
More detail will on the proposed route is available on our Virtual Consultation Room.
Click on the hotspots
Click on the hotspots
Offshore Substation
Transition Joint Bay
Onshore substation
Existing Eirgrid Substation at Belcamp
Underground Cable Circuit and Joint Bays
Offshore Wind Turbines
