Licences granted for testing seven wind power sites

Wind power is to be tested on seven south Irish Sea sites, following approval of investigation licences by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources, Mr Fahey.

Four separate groups have received the seven licences, which will last for up to four years. Harland & Wolff has been granted permits for three locations off counties Wicklow and Wexford, while the Kish Consortium, comprising ESB International, Saorgus of Tralee and British group PowerGen has been given approval for two areas off Dublin and Wicklow.

Wind Farm Developments Ltd has been given a licence for a site off Wexford, and Sure Partners has been licensed to investigate an area off Wicklow. Applications lodged by Sure Partners and Wind Farm Developments for investigation off Co Louth are still being considered.

Four masts of 40 to 50 metres in height will be erected at Arklow Bank, on the Greater Codling, Codling and Blackwater Banks as part of the survey work. The Minister emphasised yesterday that the site investigation licence does not entitle the holder to construct wind turbines.

That construction will require a separate foreshore lease, and a full application to set up a wind farm will involve a comprehensive public consultation, full environmental impact statement and planning permission, Mr Fahey said.

The Minister said that the Commission for Electricity Regulation must also authorise construction and operation of electricity generation stations. And a developer seeking to construct within five kilometres of the shore must also clearly demonstrate that there would be no adverse visual effects, he added.

The initial investigation permits allow for wave, current and tidal monitoring, benthic (seabed) surveys, laying of temporary moorings, geotechnical surveys and the erection of 40 to 50 metre anemometer masts to measure wind speed. These licences are the first granted under a new Government policy for offshore electricity generation stations, published earlier this year. The concerns of local communities and other stakeholders in marine environment were an essential consideration in formulating the policy, the Minister said.