A major new offshore windfarm development could be on the way for Dublin Bay.

Developers say the proposed €1.5bn development will be capable of powering 600,000 Irish homes.

German energy giant RWE and Irish company Saorgus are awaiting planning permission for the project; however, they have opened it up to public consultation early.

The project would see between 45 and 61 ‘supersize’ wind turbines installed on the Kish and Bray Banks some 10km from the coasts of Dublin and Wicklow.

On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, environmental expert John Gibbons said the clean energy the plans would bring to the system would be worth the view out over Dublin Bay.

“I am looking at the mock-up images they have produced and it will change the view, for example, that I would get when I walk down where I live out Dun Laoghaire way,” he said.

“You will see the new wind farm on the horizon but you know what? I think it is a very small price to pay for what we are getting.

“The array we are looking at here is around 900 megawatts. To put that in context, that is the equivalent of the giant Moneypoint coal-fired power station down in Clare.”

Artist’s impression of the proposed Dublin Array windfarm from Howth. Image: Dublin Array

The wind turbines will be up to 310 metres high; however technological improvements have seen the number included in the project falling significantly, from a high of 145 in the original plans to between 45 and 61 in the new plan.

Mr Gibbons said the improvement in wind power in recent years has been “really extraordinary.”

“Really the technology In wind farms has changed beyond recognition in recent years,” he said.

“The original array in Arklow Bay, which you will see if you go out on the ferry to Wales, that was 25 megawatts.

“This one is 900 so that will show you what has happened in 20 years. Wind farms have gone from being Mickey Mouse to being really serious energy producers.”

Artist’s impression of the proposed Dublin Array windfarm from Killiney Hill. Image: Dublin Array

He said polls show that upwards of 80% of Irish people are in favour of wind energy; however, there remains a small minority who have a “particular issue” with wind farms.

“I understand in certain locations that wind energy has been an issue and of course it has been an aesthetic issue – in other words, people don’t really want to look at them up close,” he said.

“I understand that and that is why offshore wind is the answer. We can produce bigger turbines with better flow because when you go offshore the winds are steadier. There is less interference from the landscape.

“So, I think, to scale up wind energy so that it basically is producing effectively 100% of all of Ireland’s energy at various times and hopefully, in excess of that, you really need to go offshore.”