Derek McDowell
Question:97 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources the progress made with regard to the identification of suitable sites for offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22028/00]
Other Questions. - Electricity Generation.
The role of my Department in relation to offshore electricity generation stations is to issue foreshore licences to allow the investigation of the suitability of sites on the foreshore and, in the event that the investigations prove any of the sites to be suitable, to consider applications for foreshore leases to allow for offshore electricity generation projects to proceed.
The identification of suitable sites is a matter for intending developers, having regard to current or imminent technologies, access to the national grid and other issues of a technical and financial nature which are outside the competence of my Department. The technical issues will be ones which will largely be within the competence of the Commission for Electricity Regulation, which is in place to regulate the generation and supply market, or within the competence of the Minister for Public Enterprise whose Department is responsible for policy development in relation to green electricity and indeed electricity generally.
Currently four companies hold foreshore licences to allow investigation of the suitability of sites off the east coast. Of these, one is actively being investigated by Sure Partners. Work to date has concentrated on preparation of an environ mental impact assessment and examination of the suitability of the Arklow Bank from the point of view of stability, make up and so on.
The active investigations show that the bank is primarily a sand base and that there is little flora or fauna in the area. Installation of an anemometer to allow measurement of wind speeds and direction over the banks will commence in the near future. One other company, the Kish Consortium, is known to have been carrying out wind measurements for some time but as the company is not using the foreshore for such investigations no foreshore licence is necessary for such work.
The Kish Consortium and the two other licensees, Harland and Wolff and Wind Farm Developments Limited intend to activate their foreshore licences and commence on-site investigations in April next.
Can the Minister identify the seven sites where investigation is being undertaken? He has already identified two sites.
I understand the licences have been issued for four years. When does the Minister expect definitive proposals for the development of offshore wind farms? Does he consider the Foreshore Act an adequate legislative mechanism for dealing with applications for the development of offshore wind farms? The framers of the Act in the 1930s can hardly have anticipated the development of wind farms off shore. Does the Minister have plans to develop new procedures for the assessment of such applications?
I will provide a map for the Deputy and for the Oireachtas Library showing the locations of the various research exercises which are being undertaken at present.
I cannot say when definitive proposals will be received because that is a matter for the industry. However, licence holders are confident that electricity will be produced in a short time.
I opened this matter to public consulation to give the general public and industry interests an opportunity to contribute to the debate. I am satisfied that sufficient procedures are in place to deal with applications. Because the technology is new we have opened the debate to public consultation. There is no pressing demand for legislation or new regulations but I will keep an open mind on the matter.
I am disappointed the Minister has not mentioned wind farm development on the west or south-west coasts when the prevailing winds are from the south-west and west. Will lack of access to the national grid be an impediment to the development of offshore wind farms? The south-western, western and north-western coastlines do not have access to the national grid. How can offshore wind farming be developed in areas which do not have access to the national grid?
I accept Deputy Sheehan's point that the winds blow wild off the west and south- west coasts and particularly off the coast of west Cork. However, the siting of wind farms off those coasts would not be easy and would demand private sector investment. Some research is being carried out but because of the difficult conditions in the west, the east coast is a much better proposition.
If there is a successful outcome there will be access to the national grid and I would strongly encourage that. A research programme involving co-operation between the Marine Institute and Harland and Wolff is in place. This is designed to create electricity from wave energy off the west and south-west coasts and is very promising.
Will they not harvest the waves?