Ymddiheuriadau. Dim ond yn Saesneg mae rhai o ddatganiadau i'r wasg Cyfeillion y Ddaear Cymru ar hyn o bryd. Gellir cynnal cyfweliadau gyda'r wasg yn y Gymraeg neu'r Saesneg.

27 Oct 2008

An off-shore windfarm that could generate a tenth of the electricity used in Wales¹ should be given the go-ahead as soon as possible, according to a leading environmental organisation.

Friends of the Earth Cymru has written to the Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, stating that the Gwynt y Môr windfarm, which would be sited eight miles off the north Wales coast, is urgently needed to help cut emissions of climate-changing gases. It would also make an important contribution to ambitious targets for generating electricity from renewable sources².

Gwynt y Môr would provide power to around half a million homes - avoiding the emission of around two million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year - and would pay back the energy used in its construction in less than a year.

Gordon James, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said:

"The Gwynt y Môr offshore windfarm is extremely important because it would make a significant contribution to cutting emissions of climate-changing gases and to generating electricity from renewable sources.

"Scientific evidence is showing that climate change is happening sooner and with greater intensity than predicted and that major cuts in emissions of gases, such as carbon dioxide, must be made quickly if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences³. Gwynt y Môr would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by around two million tonnes a year.

"In order to help cut these emissions, the EU has set ambitious targets for producing energy from renewable sources by 2020. For the UK, this means increasing electricity generation from renewables from five per cent at present to around 35 per cent in twelve years time. Gwynt y Môr would generate enough electricity for around a half of a million homes.

"Despite vocal opposition from a minority, opinion polls consistently show public support for wind energy³. We believe that this is also the situation in north Wales with regard to Gwynt y Môr. Over 2,000 letters supporting Gwynt y Môr have been collected by the Sustainable Energy Alliance. Over 300 visitors to the Friends of the Earth Cymru stalls at this year's Royal Welsh Show and National Eisteddfod also signed letters supporting this vitally important renewable energy project.

"This weekend (Saturday 25th October), Friends of the Earth local groups have been out on the streets all around Wales, encouraging everyone to support the renewable energy revolution. People are demanding that the UK Government doesn't try and wriggle out of its commitment to generate 15 per cent of our energy from renewable sources.

"Gwynt y Môr provides an excellent opportunity to boost this green energy revolution, and help us avoid the catastrophic consequences of climate change."

Notes

1. At 750 M maximum output, Gwynt y Mor would generate 0.75 GW x 8.76 x 0.38 load factor = 2.496 TWh/y of electricity a year. According to the Welsh Assembly Government's Energy Route Map consultation, Wales' electricity consumption equals 22 to 24 TWh/y. Gwynt-y-Mor would therefore supply about 11% of electricity demand in Wales.
2. All EU governments have now been set challenging renewable energy targets, with the UK having to generate 15 per cent of its energy from these sources by 2020. It is expected that this will require electricity generated from renewables to rise from five per cent today to around 35 per cent. Gwynt y Môr would make an important contribution towards achieving this target.
3. 'Reframing the climate change challenge in light of post-2000 emission trends' by Professor Kevin Anderson and Dr Alice Bows of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at Manchester University. See: www.tyndall.ac.uk/publications/journal_papers/fulltext.pdf
4. The Sustainable Development Commission report, 'Wind Power in the UK' (2005), assessed more than 50 public opinion surveys carried out and found that 80 per cent of people were in favour of wind farms as opposed to 20 per cent who were against.

For further information please contact Friends of the Earth Cymru on 029 2022 9577