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Wind Power News: Ireland
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Safeguarding ocean life ‘will squeeze’ wind farms, fishing
The report says the Irish Sea has a “long history of exploitation and human influence” and is “far from pristine”, but says there are more than 1,700 species in the western Irish Sea and it is a “biocultural hotspot”. It stresses its importance for birdlife, including migratory species, and says it has some “rare and unusual habitats”. Complete story »
Residents win battle against wind turbine
Residents in South Conamara have won their battle against plans to construct a wind turbine near their homes. An Bord Pleanála last week upheld a decision made by Galway County Council to refuse planning permission for a 4.2-megawatt wind turbine with an overall height of 125 metres at Bóthar Buí, Indreabhán. Natural Forces Renewable Energy Limited had appealed the County Council decision to ABP but the planning appeals board refused to allow the development go-ahead. It listed four main reasons . . . Complete story »
Misfortune will blow our way if we rely on wind turbines for almost all our electricity
The fine weather of recent weeks is starting to worry the farming community. Seen from their perspective, it marks the start of drought conditions that can play havoc with farm output and profitability. Met Éireann has already announced that 24 out of 25 weather stations are currently observing “absolute droughts”, a period of 15 or more consecutive days with daily rainfall of less than 0.2mm. Indeed, most have already experienced between 15 and 26 days of “absolute drought”.” Perhaps the . . . Complete story »
Despite vehement opposition Longford planners approve ‘massive’ Edgeworthstown wind turbine development
Despite vehement local opposition and several submissions, including a lengthy 17-page objection from ‘The Residents’ signed by hundreds of people, Longford planners have given the go ahead for the construction of a ‘massive’ Edgeworthstown wind turbine development. Natural Forces Renewable Energy Ltd (Natural Forces) propose to construct an Enercon E138 Wind Energy Converter on an 81m tower with an electrical rating of 4.2MW and an overall tip height of 149.38m at Lissanore, Co Longford. Local authority planners published their decision, . . . Complete story »
Challenge to Ballivor wind farm: Bord Pleanála told of significant hurdles in Irish and EU law to development on bogs
Bord na Móna’s renewable energy partnership, Bord na Móna Powergen, is facing a challenge to its plans for a flagship 26-turbine wind farm in Cos Meath and Westmeath. The challenge, if successful, could be applied to all Bord na Móna bogs and derail the company’s plans for a timely transition from a “brown” energy to becoming a “green” energy supplier. Bord Pleanála’s strategic infrastructure division is currently considering a planning application for the Ballivor wind farm which is to be . . . Complete story »
Building wind farms on peatlands could undermine green transition
Peatlands are the largest land-based carbon stores on the planet. Although they cover less than 3% of the Earth’s land surface, peatlands store twice as much carbon as all the world’s forests. Complete story »
Wind farms lead to ‘significant’ decrease in soil moisture, study finds
A new study has found that wind farms can have a “significant” impact on soil moisture, and aggravate the soil drying in grassland areas, with impacts on ecosystems. The research, published in peer-reviewed journal, Science of the Total Environment, found that “wind farms significantly reduced soil moisture within the wind farms and in the upwind and downwind directions.” The study focused on wind farms located in the grasslands of China, and researchers “analyzed changes in soil moisture in different wind . . . Complete story »
Court asked to quash licence for investigating offshore site for proposed wind farm
A fisherman has asked the High Court to quash a licence allowing a renewable energy firm to investigate sites off the coast of Dublin and Wicklow in connection with a proposed €1.5 billion offshore wind farm. On Friday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys gave permission for Ivan Toole, of Ashford, Co Wicklow, and his company Golden Venture Fishing Limited, of the same address, to bring their action against the Minister of State with responsibility for planning and local government over his . . . Complete story »
Wind farm concerns over marine wildlife
They appear like majestic matchsticks on the horizon, 10km from the shoreline on the Arklow Bank. These wind turbines are the first, and still the only, operational offshore windfarm in Ireland. Now four more projects, three off the east coast and one off the coast of Galway, have been given the go-ahead to apply for planning permission. Together, if approved, they would produce enough green energy to power a third of Ireland’s demands. The announcement brings Ireland a step closer . . . Complete story »
Four new offshore wind farms get approval from Irish government
Yesterday, the government announced the success of four out of six offshore wind farm applications to the State’s first wind auction under the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. They are Sceirde Rocks off Galway’s coast, Dublin Array, Codling Wind Park off Wicklow and the North Irish Sea Array off the coast of Dublin, Meath and Louth. Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan welcomed the “competitive” wholesale cost secured during the ORESS 1 auction – an average of €86.05per . . . Complete story »
