Offshore windfarm welcomed

Friends of the Earth Cymru (FOE Cymru) has welcomed the proposal for large 58.5 MW windfarm development at Cefn Croes, near Aberystwyth (1). The environmental organisation say that the substantial output of safe, clean electricity, the financial contribution to the rural economy and a funded improvement of the flora and fauna around the windfarm should be recognised and supported.

The Cefn Croes scheme comprises 39 turbines rated at 1.5 megawatts each which would supply about 1% of Welsh electrical consumption, or about 40,000 homes average. However, FOE Cymru say that there are few locations in Wales were such large windfarms could be sited and that the time is ripe for major deployments in offshore windfarm capacity - yet the Government's energy policy is not on course to deliver.

Neil Crumpton, FOE Cymru Energy spokesperson said:

"The output of the Cefn Croes windfarm proposal is impressive, just 39 turbines would produce about 1% of Welsh electrical consumption, and a well funded land management plan would likely noticeably improve the surrounding flora and fauna. There are probably not many places where such a large windfarm could be sited in Wales, the Cefn Croes site is such a place, and the scheme looks well designed."

On the question of the large turbine size proposed, the 1.5 megawatt turbines, which have a the typical blade tip height of 95 metres are about twice the tip height as the earlier fairly common 330kW designs yet produce about 5 times the output (2). It would take 180 turbines rated at 330kW to generate the same output as the Cefn Croes proposal but the landscape impact would be much greater in FOE Cymru's opinion.

Even larger turbines from 2 to 3 megawatts or more would be ideal in offshore locations and are the obvious next step say FOE Cymru. The development of offshore windfarms is both necessary and technically doable yet the Government is breathtakingly complacent about UK climate change commitments. Energy Minister, Helen Liddell, has said that she wants a 'lean and mean' renewables industry. This means that offshore wind and even energy crops are being sidelined as their development would cost marginally more than burning off the UK's dwindling but cheap gas resource (3).

Neil Crumpton outlined the situation:

"While there is potential for further development onshore, the UK must rapidly develop its huge offshore wind resources to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. We alert the public that little offshore windfarm development is currently likely to happen because Energy Minister Helen Liddell simply does not have a grasp about energy issues and believes the public is too miserly to show serious commitment to reducing dangerous fossil fuel emissions."

FOE Cymru is calling on the National Assembly, Ceredigion Council and the public to support the Cefn Croes project and to press the Government to rapidly develop substantial offshore windfarm capacity also.

Notes

1) Application has be lodged by Renewable Development Company Ltd on 24th July 2000.

2) There are 357 turbines in Wales currently (most in the 330kW to 750kW size) with a total capacity of 148MW producing 389 million Units (kWHrs) per annum or about 2.45% of total Welsh electrical consumption. The Cefn Croes scheme would add another 1% and the recently called-in 38 MW Pentrfoelas scheme about 0.5%.

3) Britain will likely become a net gas importer within the next year or two barring major new discoveries.