A proposed wind farm off the coast of Connemara, Ireland, known as Sceirde Rocks, has been cancelled. The €1.4 billion project, which would have installed 30 turbines, was submitted for planning permission to An Bord Pleanála and was expected to bring a €70 million community fund over 20 years. However, the developer, Corio Generation, has decided not to proceed with the project due to “challenging market conditions” in the offshore wind sector. Additional site investigations and studies over the past six months revealed design complexities and engineering challenges, including extreme weather conditions, partly submerged rocky areas, and strong seabed currents, which made it difficult to guarantee the project’s resilience.
Corio Generation is re-structuring its offshore wind development business to focus on a smaller portfolio of projects with a clearer route to construction. The company did not respond to a request for confirmation, but a source close to the project stated that the decision to cancel the Sceirde Rocks wind farm was made due to the complexities discovered during the site explorations.
The project had been supported by some groups as a significant economic investment, but it had also faced opposition from local residents and environmentalists, who were concerned about the impact on the scenic coastline and marine ecosystem. An online petition against the project had gathered over 4,000 signatures, with concerns about the size of the turbines and their proximity to the coast.
The cancellation of the Sceirde Rocks wind farm is a setback for Ireland’s efforts to meet its 2030 climate targets, as it was one of the six offshore projects aiming to deliver renewable energy to the national grid. The project had secured a contract in the first Offshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme auction and had entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. However, the developer’s decision to cancel the project due to market uncertainties and technical challenges is not unprecedented, as many offshore wind projects face similar difficulties.