Port of Cork receives approval for Ringaskiddy expansion targeting offshore wind

Permission includes the go-ahead for a new 182m extension to the existing deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy West and the construction of the remaining phases of a 200m container/multi-purpose berth

An image of how the expanded Port of Cork facilities will look, including operations to support offshore wind development. Image: Port of Cork

The Port of Cork has received fresh planning approval for 10 years for the further development of facilities at Ringaskiddy.

The port company had sought the go-ahead for the planning extension as it seeks to develop further port facilities to make the harbour a key hub to support the development of offshore wind farms.

The planning application to An Coimisiún Pleanála was effectively a resubmission of a plan that was approved in 2015, but which expired in October.

The permission includes the go-ahead for a new 182m extension to the existing deepwater berth at Ringaskiddy West. Significantly, the plan includes the construction of the remaining phases of a 200m container/multi-purpose berth, which would not have been completed by October 2025 when the previous permission expired. The berth is under construction and being developed in four phases. The 10-year permission will allow these works to proceed.

The first phase of the new container terminal was completed and opened in 2022. The port company said the second container terminal and multi-purpose berth were required to facilitate increased capacity for container activities and to provide facilities which have the capacity to support offshore renewable energy (ORE) components. This introduces a new functional purpose supporting offshore renewable energy, which was not described in the 2015 permitted development.

According to the Port of Cork's Masterplan 2050, the new container terminal reached capacity this year, and operations at the Tivoli Docks in the upper harbour must continue until the facilities in Ringaskiddy are fully expanded. Shipping volumes are also expected to increase from nine million tonnes to 10.7 million tonnes annually from between 2023 and 2033.

In a statement on the decision, the Port of Cork Infrastructure Development Company, a 100% subsidiary of Port of Cork Company said it was delighted to confirm the fresh 10-year planning permission had been approved.

"This decision will support the completion of CORE-1, the only suitably designed quay infrastructure capable of supporting the offshore renewable energy sector in the lower harbour."

These facilities will position Port of Cork Company uniquely as the only port in the State with suitable port infrastructure to support Ireland's renewable energy targets.

The port company said the first phase of the new developments would be completed in the second quarter of 2026.

Separately, the Department of Energy last month approved a joint venture by ESB and Ørsted to develop the Tonn Nua offshore wind site off the coast of Co Waterford. The contract facilitates the development of a 900MW fixed-bottom offshore wind farm for the Tonn Nua site. It also enables the successful bidder to apply for a seabed lease and grid connection for the site.