Port of Waterford applies to develop terminal as support for offshore wind projects

Port of Waterford has lodged a direct planning application with An Coimisiún Pleanála for its Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Capable Terminal at Belview, County Kilkenny.

The Port of Waterford has lodged a planning application for its Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Capable Terminal at Belview, County Kilkenny. 

The application follows the recent granting of Maritime Area Consent (MAC) by the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), which provides the legal basis for the port to seek permission to develop the new infrastructure.

Central to the project is a 250-metre extension to the existing wharves at Belview. The application also provides for extensive land reclamation, new quayside operator support facilities with workshops and warehouses, berthing pontoons, and two separate three-storey office and staff buildings for ORE operators. 

The development includes a replacement electricity substation, underground services, roof-mounted solar PV arrays to generate renewable power on site, and a dedicated biodiversity enhancement area of approximately 1.8 hectares.

The investment will transform the port’s capacity to support large-scale offshore renewable energy projects including the proposed Tonn Nua Offshore Wind Farm and future projects across the Celtic Sea. 

Ireland is committed to generating 7GW of offshore wind by 2030.

CEO at Port of Waterford, David Sinnott, says: “This is a landmark day for Port of Waterford. Our application is about more than new infrastructure — it’s about creating jobs, driving growth in the southeast, and helping Ireland meet its 2030 climate goals. 

Waterford has been a maritime gateway for over a thousand years, and now we are ready to lead Ireland into its offshore renewable future.

The port company said the project will generate high-quality jobs across maritime operations, engineering, logistics, and green technology, while also creating opportunities for SMEs and local suppliers to integrate into the offshore wind supply chain.