Coastal wind farm plans presented to councillors

A GLIMPSE into the 'New Energy' future was delivered to Meath county councillors when a presentation was made to them of proposals to build wind farms in the Irish Sea.

The proposal for the wind energy projects are being made by two companies, NISA (North Irish Sea Array) and Oriel Offshore Wind Farms and are being made under the Planning and Development Act 2000-2023.

The applications are being submitted to An Bord Pleanála and because Meath Co Council is a coastal planning authority the proposals will be the subject of a report by Council Chief Executive, Kieran Kehoe.

That report will be opened to the councillors whose views will be sought.

County council executive planner, Teresa O’Reilly told councillors that the Nisa proposal includes 35 to 49 wind turbines and associated works. The total blade tip height will be 290-316 metres above lowest tide. The turbines will be located off the coasts of Meath, Louth and Co Dublin with landfall in Co Dublin.

In the Oriel proposal 25 turbine and associated works are planned and these will have a blade tip height of 270 metres above water level and will be placed off Co Louth with landfall in Louth. The Oriel company is seeking a 10-year permission with a 43-year operational life to a maximum of 2067. The site area for its wind farm will be 53.2 square kilometres The landfall will occur 700m South of Dunany Point.

The offshore infrastructure will connect to a 20kv substation at Stickillin, Ardee with access off the N33 with 20.1 kilometres 220kv onshore underground cables. The construction will take 33 month (27 onshore, 15 offshore).

The Nisa proposal seeks a 10-year permission with a 35-year operational life. The proposal is to cover a site area of 126.5 square kilometres.

In this proposal landfall will take place at Bremore, Co Dublin.

There will also be onshore 220kv 1-1.5km export cable from landfall site to a new 220kv substation and ‘compensation station’ at Bremore and 33-35km 220kv from Bremore to Belcamp substation in Co Dublin. Construction will take four years. In both Nisa and Oriel proposals the haul route will be by sea.

In his report on Oriel the council chief executive will be taking into account further information on visual impact, the effect of varying foundation height due to subsurface geology on overall tip height and view from shoreline; Meath’s protected view (Laytown Strand, Boyne Estuary view and including additional view points (only Bettystown Beach included); world heritage site etc; cumulative effects of other offshore wind farms; construction timing in conjunction with other projects; recommendations regarding onshore archaeology.

In his report on the Nisa proposal, Mr Kehoe will be taking into account further information on visual impact; queries on the effect of varying turbines heights due to Dublin Airport zone and view from the shoreline; Meath protected views – Laytown Strand, Boyne Estuary view, and including additional viewpoints (Cromwells Avenue at Gormanston Castle), and any other impacts on tourism assets in the region.

The CE’s report will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála and then views of councillors will be sought and recommendations attached to the report.

The planning application document will be made available to the public in Meath Co Council offices and online and any submissions by interested parties will have to go direct to An Bord Pleanála.