Sir, – Sadhbh O’Neill bemoans objections to Ireland’s proposed off-shore wind farms for visual reasons (“Maybe we need to learn to see wind turbines as beautiful”, Opinion, Environment, August 27th).
Consideration of the visual impact of any building or structure on its surrounding environment is a basic principle of planning. All across Europe, countries have put in place limits which generally mean wind turbines need to be at least 12 nautical miles from shore for visual reasons. Ireland’s current proposed off-shore windfarms are far closer to shore, and with their massive size and scale, will be visually intrusive. They would contravene planning guidelines all across Europe, except Ireland, where we have not yet adopted any guidelines.
Your columnist states that “we are running out of time and choices”. We are not. All across Europe, countries increasingly look to adopt floating wind turbines as the solution, which are perfectly feasible for Ireland to consider and can be placed much further from the shore.
The Irish public has a reasonable right to expect that our energy transition will be managed to proper European standards. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP WHEATLEY,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.
Sir, – While Sadhbh O’Neill acknowledges that “concerns about impacts of offshore wind turbines on marine environment are valid”, her article fudges the view of the South East Coastal Protection Alliance regarding nearshore wind farms. It is clear to readers of our website that our predominant concern is not the visual aspect of the Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 but rather the more compelling issues regarding the potential destruction of the sandbank, consequent adverse impacts of coastal erosion and the hugely increased risk of flooding for coastal communities. The sandbank is 27km long and 6km to 15km from shore and protects beaches from Wicklow Head to south of Kilmichael Point in Wexford from the worst ravages of winter storms.
We have found in our efforts to raise public awareness about the Arklow Bank Wind Park 2 project that none of those approached knew anything about the plans to place up to 57 turbines on the sandbank, each nearly 1,000ft tall. Each blade would be the same height as the Dublin Spire on O’Connell Street. For those minority of people who actually know about this project, it is next to impossible to appreciate what the development would look like, given that visualisations of the project are not readily available. While your columnist may not be the only person in Ireland who thinks wind turbines are beautiful, at the very least the public should be able to make up their own minds.
This site was chosen 25 years ago, when building in shallow water was the only viable option. It was selected based on now outdated technology, an uninformed view on the need to protect biodiversity and an inadequate awareness of the impacts that damage to the sandbank would have on the coastal environment. As a consequence, the site is too close to onshore protected nature reserves and protected seabird colonies.
The Government granted a Maritime Area Consent purely on the basis that the site had previously been earmarked for a wind farm. This was done without any environmental assessments, and it is now intent on pushing the project through without due regard to the requirements of EU legislation, including implementing an up-to-date Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The SEA Directive requires a Cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment to be undertaken on all known developments, together with the Arklow Bank Wind Park 2, and to examine the potential effects on nature reserves. This has not been done.
Fixed-bottom turbines can now be located in depths of water of up to 65/70m and suitable sites are available beyond the 12 nautical mile limit, as demonstrated by the Mac Lir Offshore Wind Farm, a 1 gigawatt project planned to be entirely outside Ireland’s 12 nautical mile limit in the Irish Sea.
Proper site selection is the key to planning a wind farm correctly and we should not have to let go of unspoilt views, or accept unnecessary environmental damage, as the result of bad planning and Government inaction. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL HIGGINS,
WILLIAM HOURIE,
OLIVER STAUNTON,
South East Coastal Protection Alliance,
Brittas Bay,
Co Wicklow.