31. In areas such as the Irish Sea where strong tidal flows prevail, would the presence of multiple large monopile-type structures in the water affect current flows, turbulence, mixing, sediment transport and biological activity in the immediate areas?

Yes. Several studies have indicated the possibility of negative impacts extending for distances of up to 60 km on marine life and marine habitat due to wake formation from turbines located in moving water. Additional sediment in the wake could cause a decrease in underwater light availability, negatively impacting primary production (e.g., phytoplankton survival and growth) and reducing the ability of sight-feeding predators to hunt their prey. It is also suggested that shifts in the patterns of suspended sediment will lead to changes in deposition or erosion patterns, risking reef smothering and increased erosion along Ireland’s coasts. A 2018 study prepared for the Crown Estate (UK) identifies an increase of 40% in the concentration of suspended material in the wake behind monopile structures in an area where tidal flows were evident and further investigated several factors which would possibly cause increased sediment in the water. The study concluded that, along with scouring of the local seabed and the release of mud and organic material associated with epifauna (animals found to be living on or attached to the seafloor or submerged structures), the redistribution of suspended material from the lower water column to the surface is caused by the increased turbulence within the wake. (A study in the North Sea showed that hydrodynamic disturbance had a major impact on the whole ecosystem. Will try to locate.) [fusion_text columns="" column_min_width="" column_spacing="" rule_style="" rule_size="" rule_color="" hue="" saturation="" lightness="" alpha="" content_alignment_medium="" content_alignment_small="" content_alignment="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" sticky_display="normal,sticky" class="" id="" margin_top="" margin_right="" margin_bottom="" margin_left="" fusion_font_family_text_font="Fraunces" fusion_font_variant_text_font="700" font_size="24px" line_height="1.6em" letter_spacing="" text_transform="" text_color="var(--awb-custom_color_2)" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_color="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_delay="0" animation_offset=""] Did you know that the seven Arklow Bank turbines sit on monopiles. In 2017, Arklow Energy Limited, the company who managed the development, were granted a Dumping at Sea Licence for use of a sea plough to dredge 99,999 tonnes of material that had accumulated around the bases of turbines. The permit was granted for a period of eight years, with no environmental assessment. [/fusion_text]

32. Why should Ireland proceed with caution regarding the rollout of offshore renewable energy?

The biodiversity disaster in Derrybrien, Co. Galway exemplifies what can go horribly wrong when wind developers and government neglect best practice, fail to ensure robust environmental assessment and disregard European environmental law. In 2003, during the construction of the 70-turbine Derrybrien wind park, a landslide occurred causing over 450,000 cubic metres of peat to slide into the Owendalulleegh River, resulting in the death of 50,000 fish. The European Court of Justice subsequently ruled in 2008 that an Environmental Impact Assessment should have been conducted before the development was given permission to proceed. The ESB permanently ceased operations at Derrybrien in March 2022 and intends to fully decommission the site. In total, the State was fined over €20 million for failing to comply with EU legislation which resulted in this environmental disaster, with such serious consequences for the local community.

33. What about the significant community benefit funds involved?

Community benefit funds are generated as a result of developers partaking in the government’s Offshore Renewable Energy Support Scheme (ORESS). ORESS is an auction-based system designed to guarantee developers a fixed price for their generated electricity over the lifetime of the project. In turn developers are obliged to donate (to the community?) €2 for every MW/hour they generate which may amount to approximately €2-4 million in contributions per year based on a development of the size that is proposed on the Irish coastline. This is a sizeable amount of money for communities but remember the guaranteed price paid to wind operators comes from the public purse and from us, the customers, and the ‘community benefit’ funds must be paid to communities regardless of how near or far from the coast a wind farm is located. Additionally, successful projects will be paid for electricity they generate even if the grid cannot accept the load. This may happen in times of high winds and low demand. In this case, the taxpayer will pay for electricity that is not being used.

34. What is the link between what happened in Derrybrien and planning of offshore wind?

Three recent government initiatives have led to the situation we are in today. The current position is that not one of the offshore wind developments currently proposed, including those being pushed by the government in their ‘Phase 1’ plan, have been subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment. In addition, more recent applications for investigative foreshore licences are being granted without being subject to Environmental Impact Assessment. The three initiatives are as follows: Firstly, in May 2020, while the country was in Covid lockdown, it was announced jointly by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment that seven offshore wind proposals would be classified as ‘relevant’ projects. This decision came out of the blue, was subject to no environmental assessment, no public participation and there was no access to a public right of appeal, possibly in breach of the Aarhus Convention. Secondly, these same proposed wind developments, based on their special status as ‘relevant’ projects, were granted Maritime Area Consents (23 rd December 2022) on the sole authority of the Minister for Energy, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan. A Maritime Area Consent (MAC) gave the developer 45-year occupation rights over a specified area of the Foreshore and the right to engage in the State’s Offshore Renewable Support Scheme (ORESS). Thirdly, following the ORESS auction, four of the proposed projects were successful, meaning that they are now deemed eligible to apply for planning permission (development consent). None of the projects first designated as ‘relevant’, then given MACs and subsequently allowed to proceed to apply for permission to construct were ever subject to Strategic Environmental Assessment. Difficult though it is to believe, this is the case and represents serious breaches of best practice and adherence to European law.

35. It seems hard to believe that multi-million Euro wind energy projects that would involve construction of massive under and over water infrastructure in sensitive and protected inshore areas have been allowed to progress without comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment? Is this really the case?

Yes. A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was undertaken pre-2010 when Ireland’s draft Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP 1) was published. However, while the plan was criticised for the acknowledged data and knowledge gaps, more critically, the Environmental Report of the SEA revealed that “a Parliamentary Statement, provided by Eamon Ryan, Minister of DCENR confirmed that the SEA should not influence or affect the processing of existing Foreshore Lease applications”. This Parliamentary Statement resulted in legacy applications being excluded from SEA and instead being categorised as ‘ already existing renewable infrastructure’ . Clearly the projects in question were not already existing infrastructure. The OREDP was to have been fully reviewed and a new SEA carried out in 2020, but this has not happened. So, amazingly, none of the currently proposed ORE applications have been subject to mandatory SEA.

36. So what Is Blue Ireland asking for?

We want our elected representatives to be pro-active in safeguarding our marine and coastal ecosystems and ensuring they are not sacrificed for offshore wind infrastructure. We want our elected representatives to make a public statement that you will support only Offshore Renewable Energy that fully complies with the following environmental safeguards: An ecosystem-based approach to planning and development - the cornerstone of EU environmental law The Habitats Directive The Birds Directive The Marine Spatial Planning Directive The Marine Strategy Framework Directive The Nature Restoration Law We want our elected representatives to ensure that the State commissions a fully independent Strategic Environmental Assessment to ascertain the cumulative environmental impact of all projects proposed, and repeals Part 9 of the Planning and Development Bill 2023. Click here to download a flyer of these requests

FAQs Archive - Page 4 of 4

Published: September 5, 2020

31. In areas such as the Irish Sea where strong tidal flows prevail, would the presence of multiple large monopile-type structures in the water affect current flows, turbulence, mixing, sediment transport and biological activity in the immediate areas?
Learn More
Published: July 7, 2020

32. Why should Ireland proceed with caution regarding the rollout of offshore renewable energy?
Learn More
Published: July 5, 2020

33. What about the significant community benefit funds involved?
Learn More
Published: June 5, 2020

34. What is the link between what happened in Derrybrien and planning of offshore wind?
Learn More
Published: May 5, 2020

35. It seems hard to believe that multi-million Euro wind energy projects that would involve construction of massive under and over water infrastructure in sensitive and protected inshore areas have been allowed to progress without comprehensive Strategic Environmental Assessment? Is this really the case?
Learn More
Published: April 5, 2020

36. So what Is Blue Ireland asking for?
Learn More