Contract Facilitates Development of 900-MW Offshore Wind Farm at Tonn Nua
By Simon West
A joint venture formed by Ørsted and ESB has won the provisional rights to develop the Tonn Nua offshore wind site in Ireland.
The award was granted by Ireland’s Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) following the country’s second offshore wind auction, dubbed ORESS Tonn Nua. The auction offers a partially indexed 20-year contract for difference (CfD) to support the development of a 900-megawatt (MW) fixed-bottom wind farm and the right to seek a seabed lease and grid connection for the winning bidder.
The 306-square-kilometer Tonn Nua site off Ireland’s south coast is currently in early phase development. A final investment decision is expected in 2031, with first power in the mid-2030s. Once operational, it is expected to generate enough electricity to power nearly one million homes.
“Offshore wind will play an important part in the future Irish energy system ensuring green, affordable and secure energy,” said Alana Kühne, Head of Region Europe Development at Ørsted. “We will continue to work with our joint venture partner ESB to carefully assess and progress this early-stage development opportunity, including ensuring that the project lives up to our value creation criteria.”
Ørsted and ESG entered a 50/50 partnership in 2023 to jointly develop a pipeline of offshore wind projects off the Irish coast. Tonn Nua is the first offshore wind development site progressed to auction under the partnership.
The JV will now seek regulatory consents to begin surveys.
Ørsted is a member of the Breakbulk Global Shipper Network (BGSN).