EirGrid completes major marine surveys for Irish offshore wind

EirGrid, the Irish electricity transmission operator, has completed its 2026 marine and coastal survey campaign along the south coast of Ireland. This initiative is part of the ‘Powering Up Offshore – South Coast’ programme, aimed at developing infrastructure to connect offshore renewable energy projects to the national grid.

The campaign involved nearly 70,000 survey hours covering 2,337 kilometres of maritime area. The data collected focuses on seabed, coastal, and environmental conditions, which will be used for technical studies, environmental assessments, and the planning of subsea cable corridors and offshore substation locations.

Specifically, the findings will support the Tonn Nua offshore renewable energy area. This project is expected to facilitate the connection of approximately 900 MW of offshore renewable power, which has the potential to supply electricity to nearly one million homes. Public consultation regarding proposed infrastructure options along the coasts of Cork and Wexford is ongoing until 8 December 2026.