Approval of major windfarm welcomed

3 Dec 2008

The go-ahead for the Gwynt y Môr windfarm eight miles off the North Wales coast has been welcomed by Friends of the Earth Cymru.

Approval for the windfarm, which will generate a tenth of the electricity used in Wales[1], was announced this morning (December 3rd) by Energy and Climate Secretary, Ed Miliband.

Energy campaigner for Friends of the Earth Cymru, Neil Crumpton, said:

"We are delighted that Gwynt y Môr has been given the green light. This is terrific news for Wales and for the environment.

"This is just the sort of project we need to help us tackle the immense threat of climate change and to meet ambitious renewable energy targets[2].

"Despite vocal opposition from a minority, opinion polls consistently show public support for wind energy[3]. This has been shown again with the massive support this project has received.

"Over 2,000 letters supporting Gwynt y Môr have been collected by the Sustainable Energy Alliance. Hundreds of visitors to Friends of the Earth Cymru stalls this summer signed letters calling for this vitally important renewable energy project to go ahead.

"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 consequences[4]. Gwynt y Môr would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by around two million tonnes a year.

"Gwynt y Môr provides an excellent opportunity to boost the green energy revolution. Wales and the UK are world leaders in offshore wind power, and it's this sort of investment in a low carbon future that will create new jobs and build a sustainable economy."

In October, Friends of the Earth Cymru wrote to Energy and Climate Change Minister, Ed Miliband, urging him to support the scheme.

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. 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.

4. '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.

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