Corio eyes westwards shift for European offshore wind with Irish consent bid

Corio Generation has put in a planning application for its Sceirde Rocks Windfarm project in Ireland – potentially opening up a new western front for European offshore wind.

The 450MW Sceirde Rocks is planned for waters off County Galway on Ireland’s west coast – the first in progress there.

Corio submitted an application to Irish planning authority An Bord Pleanála for the fixed-foundation project of up to 30 turbines sited 5-12km offshore.

The 3GW of winning projects in the auction secured power at an average price of €86.05/MWh ($93.80/MWh), described by the Irish government at the time as “one of the lowest prices paid by an emerging offshore wind market in the world”.

Macquarie-backed Corio, which is led by CEO Jonathan Cole, hopes the project can enter construction in 2026 with first power from 2030.

If it proceeds, Sceirde Rocks would mark a new westwards shift for offshore wind in northern Europe, with only Portugal far to the south also putting turbines so far west into the Atlantic.

Tim Coffey, head of Ireland at Corio Generation, said: “Sceirde Rocks Windfarm is a landmark project for County Galway and for the nation of Ireland. As the first offshore wind project proposed for Ireland’s west coast it can pave the way for major long-term investment in green energy technology and infrastructure in the west of the country.”