Ciarán Cuffe, Green Party MEP for Dublin, has described a wind farm planned off the coast of South Dublin “indispensable” for meeting our climate targets. "However," he said, “as a flagship project of the renewables transition, it is essential that this project adheres to the highest social, ecological, and aesthetic standards.”

The Réalt na Mara offshore wind farm, which could generate up to 1.6 GW of electricity – enough to power 1.5 million Irish homes – is currently open for public consultation ahead of its planning application later this year. Such projects are a major source of electricity production for other European countries such as Denmark and the UK, and a similar project at Arklow is currently generating 25 MW.

Referring to aesthetic concerns associated with the development, Cuffe’s submission to the consultation calls for increased investment in onshore cultural amenities.

“The recent redevelopment of the Dun Laoghaire baths illustrate the power of public investment to foster pride of place in a community,” writes Cuffe. “Similar investments in Bray and Killiney could solidify South Dublin’s identity as a beautiful coastal destination.”

Cuffe’s submission also highlights ecological concerns.

“Surveys of the ocean bed performed in preparation for the development should not interfere unduly with marine life. Sonar technology employed in these surveys can be disturbing for cetaceans, and vessels travelling through the water at high speeds may cause dangerous collisions.”

Cuffe calls for a speed limit of ten knots for boats performing surveys and for the use of new technologies which minimise the noise generated by sonar.

Speaking about his submission, Cuffe re-iterated the stakes of ensuring the development is successful:

“This project represents the beginning of a life-or-death effort to transition away from fossil fuels. Carelessness now will have consequences for generations to come. We simply have to get this right.”