EirGrid completes first phase of offshore surveys for national procurement project

EirGrid, Ireland’s electricity grid operator, has concluded the initial phase of marine and coastal surveys as part of the Powering Up Offshore – South Coast project. This initiative is designed to support the installation of transmission infrastructure for 900 MW of offshore wind capacity along Ireland’s south coast.

The surveys, conducted after EirGrid secured its Maritime Usage Licence (MUL) from the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority (MARA), began in July 2025 and included comprehensive geophysical, environmental, and metocean assessments along cable route corridors in Maritime Area A, or Tonn Nua. Intertidal non-intrusive landfall investigations also formed part of the initial phase, ensuring that survey methods minimise environmental impact while collecting critical data for offshore planning.

Fugro, awarded the marine survey contract through EirGrid’s Offshore Marine Survey Framework, led the survey campaign alongside subcontractors TechWorks Marine, based in Dun Laoghaire, and Green Rebel from Cork. These partners conducted metocean and environmental surveys, while two newly deployed MetOcean buoys continue to collect wind, wave, water quality, and sunlight data through late 2026.

Over the 2025 campaign, survey teams covered 3,770 kilometres of seabed and completed over 40,000 manhours of work, coordinating closely with fisheries, local communities, and industry stakeholders. The collected data will inform subsequent phases of geophysical, geotechnical, and unexploded ordnance (UXO) surveys in 2026, as well as the technical and design planning of offshore transmission infrastructure.

Liam Ryan, EirGrid’s Chief Transformation, Technology and Offshore Officer, highlighted the importance of collaboration with local communities and strategic partners, noting that the data gathered will be critical for planning cable routes and substation locations while safeguarding the marine environment.

Explore the full report to understand how national procurement contracts are shaping offshore wind infrastructure.