Tetra Tech is delivering the planning, environmental assessment and infrastructure design services for a state-of-the-art Operations and Maintenance Facility (OMF) supporting both on shore and offshore components of Arklow Bank Wind Park.
Consisting of a state-of-the-art purpose-built OMF, this project will act as a support base for both the onshore and offshore elements of the Arklow Bank Wind Park Phase 2.
SSE Renewables appointed us to provide planning, environmental assessment reports, building and quayside infrastructure design services.
The base will be used to control, operate and maintain the wind farm over its operational lifetime. Located on the top floor of the Operations and Maintenance Facility is a Sustainable Education Centre, which intends to serve as a point of connection between the offshore wind farm, the operations and the community.
Challenge
The client, SSE Renewables, required planning advice, preparation of the Planning Report and the planning application. We also managed the environmental reports that were submitted, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, the Natura Impact Statement and the Flood Risk Assessment Report.
A key challenge was ensuring an integrated design between the OMF and the required quayside infrastructure, including the associated berthing pontoons, allowing for a connection between the two.
Solution
We overcame the challenge of integrating the design of the OMF and the quayside infrastructure through close communication with the client SSE Renewables and our teams. Before any design work was undertaken, we held in-depth discussions around the nature of the Operations & Maintenance activities. These discussions then informed the final design, ensuring maximum integration and connection between all elements of the project.
In keeping with Arklow’s goals as a decarbonisation zone, we designed the OMF as a Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB), with the small amount of energy required provided by renewable sources produced on site or nearby. Part of the design also included a Sustainable Education Centre. Located on the top floor of the OMF, this centre is intended to act as a point of connection between the offshore wind farm, the operations and the wider community.
Due to our work in conjunction with the client SSE Renewables, Wicklow County Council granted planning permission to develop an OMF at South Dock, Arklow Harbour.
We provided planning advice throughout this process, as well as preparing both the planning report and the planning application. This landmark decision is an historic first for Ireland’s offshore wind sector. It means SSE Renewables is the first renewable energy company to secure planning permission to develop such infrastructure for an Irish offshore wind farm.
At a glance
Client
South East Water
Location
South East England, Hampshire, Basingstoke, Kent and Sussex
Services
Active leakage control, associated services, and WaterNet
The project featured in this article was undertaken by RPS, A Tetra Tech Company and originally published on RPSgroup.com. In March 2026 RPS rebranded to Tetra Tech.