The Port of Waterford lodged a direct planning application with the country’s planning authority, An Coimisiún Pleanála, for its Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Capable Terminal at Belview in Kilkenny County.
The application follows the recent granting of a Maritime Area Consent (MAC), which provides the legal basis for the port to seek permission to develop the new infrastructure.
Central to the project is a 250 m 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, creating the conditions for Waterford to act as a strategic staging ground for major developments such as the proposed Tonn Nua offshore wind farm and future projects across the Celtic Sea.
With Ireland committed to generating 7GW of offshore wind by 2030, Waterford is designed to support this target and beyond.
“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,” said David Sinnott, CEO at Port of Waterford.
