COAstAL LIfe Not in my backyard? Windfarms are springing up all around the British Isles, but most are offshore, away from the controversy blowing in the countryside. Bethany Hope investigates their impact Devotees of the modern equivalent of the windmill consider the waters of the UK and RoI ideal for the generation of electricity from wind power. But this is no mere theory – offshore windfarms are now at the forefront of the attempt to lessen our reliance on oil for energy.

The UK’s first such installation was commissioned in 2000 off Blyth, Northumberland. Just two turbines were erected, supplying electricity for almost 2,250 households. Four further farms, with up to 30 turbines each, off north Wales, Norfolk, Kent and Cumbria are now generating power for the National Grid. Arklow Bank windfarm, off Co. Wicklow also has seven turbines in operation.

More are to follow. Offshore wind farms with the potential capacity of 8.4 gigawatts have been approved or offered site licences around the UK. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) forecasts that a third of these farms will be in operation by 2010. The north west and north east of England, the greater Wash, the Thames estuary and the east coast of Ireland are all prime locations. Larger developments with hundreds of turbines will be far more efficient than their inshore cousins, resulting in electricity cheap enough to rival nuclear power stations as they near their time for decommissioning.

However, energy companies looking to develop offshore must first gain permission.

Guidelines from the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), the industry’s representative body, stress the importance of consulting local communities and bodies such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Countryside Agency, Wildlife Trusts, Ministry of Defence (MoD), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Royal Yachting Association and RNLI. In our island nations, emotions will always run high when the seascape is at risk so the results of an environmental impact assessment are key to the statutory process.

The view from the coast Offshore windfarms have so far been built in waters less than 30m deep and are clearly visible from the coast. The majority of the planned farms, though larger, will be more than 8 miles offshore and hard to spot on anything but a crystal-clear day. Opinions differ on whether the structures detract from or add to the view. Some find their minimalist design elegant while others object to a blot on Nature. Windfarms on floating platforms, still further out to sea, would resolve any such debate but are currently too expensive to build and maintain.

The construction phase is most feared.

No one wishes their home to turn into an industrial site, with increased noise, dirt and traffic. However, surveys highlight consistently that most people living near windfarms like them and that tourism isn’t harmed. Further, local communities often benefit from job creation, with energy companies keen to employ local contractors.

Several companies have shown their commitment to the local area through donations. For example, npower renewables has set up the North Hoyle Community Fund, which has already given a £25,000 4x4 vehicle to Rhyl lifeboat station. ? Any disruption by windfarms will, however, be nothing compared with the dramatic effects of global warming predicted for coastal communities over the next decades and centuries. These include increased storms and a rising sea level with associated erosion and ? ooding. It is argued that a switch to renewable energy sources, including wind, and the resulting drop in carbon emissions, might delay or even prevent such lifethreatening damage.

Sensitive habitats Each tower must be ? rmly anchored, with piles driven into the seabed, and cables laid to the shore, so there is clearly some effect on marine life. Conservation specialists work to ensure that windfarm designs do not interfere with particularly sensitive species or designated sites. For example, the RSPB has objected to several windfarm proposals because of the risk of habitat loss for birds or their collision with turbines.

However, if carefully sited, offshore windfarms do not appear to have a signi? cant effect on bird populations. A recent report from the Swedish State Energy Authority found that only 14 individuals out of 1.5M seabirds migrating by two windfarms in south east Sweden were endangered. Further, new sealife can ? ourish around the erosionresistant tower bases. Of course, the sites are free of both the smoke and steam exhausts so associated with fossil fuel power stations and the increase in sea water temperature seen at nuclear installations.

Accident imminent? Is it only a matter of time before a boat or plane crashes into a turbine? Windfarms certainly pose a physical hazard, especially when close to major shipping routes, popular ? shing grounds or if encountered by low-? ying aircraft.

The ? rst line of defence is taken by the owners: the towers are marked with bright yellow paint at sea level, have lights on top and are ? tted with fog horns. Next, the UK Hydrographic Of? ce includes them on nautical charts.

The UK’s DTI funded practical trials in 2004, in conjunction with the MCA, the Department for Transport and offshore windfarm industry representatives, to assess any risk to navigation and communication.

Happily, they found minimal impact on boat-based communications and satellite navigation systems, including VHF radios and GPS. There was also little effect on magnetic compasses, other than what could be reasonably expected near a 100m-plus steel tower.

The effect on radar was more complex.

While it should clearly identify a windfarm at a distance, there are risks of false echoes when closer. Further, the MoD found that the blades have the potential to interfere with systems used by Air Traf? c Control and Air Defence.

The RNLI’s advice to all skippers is clear.

‘Although it isn’t currently illegal to enter an offshore windfarm, you should steer well clear. Keep at least 100m from any structure,’ says Hugh Fogarty, RNLI Staff Of? cer Operations (Fleet). ‘Use extreme navigational caution and beware the effects of the tide carrying boats down onto turbines. For sailing vessels, there will be no increase downwind, but there may be turbulence.’ Importantly, the MCA considers any effects on navigational ef? ciency or safety as part of each formal application approval process. ? ‘Although this is a new source of activity for the RNLI, for crews it’s only slightly different from dealing with any other “rock” sticking out of the sea.’ Hugh Fogarty, RNLI Staff Offi cer Operations (Fleet) HOW OFFSHORE WIND POWER WORKS • Approximately 120m tall steel tower.

• Sensors detect wind direction and head turns to face wind.

• Blades, each 35–40m, forced round by wind, slowly turning shaft, like steam in a coal- or gas-? red station.

Gears build up speed.

• Rapid rotation of coils of wire in a magnetic ? eld generates electric current so kinetic energy converted into electrical energy.

• Transformer boosts voltage and undersea cables connect to National Grid on land. Search and rescue What of the effect of windfarms on the RNLI’s own vital work? The charity has conducted exercises off Rhyl, Denbighshire, and the Kentish Flats to look at just this question.

‘Although this is a new source of activity for the RNLI, for crews, it’s only slightly different from dealing with any other “rock” sticking out of the sea,’ says RNLI Staff Of? cer Hugh Fogarty. However, coxswains and navigators are alerted to take extra caution with radar and to beware interference on VHF direction ? nding systems within 50m of windfarms.

Lifeboat crews must be prepared for a new type of rescue and every one of the RNLI’s 230-plus lifeboat stations has been suitably briefed. Those crew who live near offshore installations are encouraged to liaise with the owners and familiarise themselves with the towers and platforms so they can access them quickly and safely in an emergency. Volunteers may have to assist following a collision with a turbine; reach someone who has taken refuge on the service platform after a sinking; or help maintenance personnel who get into dif? culties.

Similarly, the MCA conducted winching and radar tests at North Hoyle windfarm with an RAF Sea King rescue helicopter. It found that rescue helicopters might be able to winch from the top of the towers although their cables aren’t usually long enough to reach the platform. Pilots also need to be aware of air turbulence downwind of the turbines and that the turbine blades may be dif? cult to spot in murky conditions.

‘Helicopters can still operate within and close to windfarms but they have to take more care,’ says Sophie Turner of the MCA.

‘In future, all renewable energy installations will be required to undergo a search and rescue assessment and to create an emergency response plan with the MCA and their local lifeboat stations.’ She also stresses that search and rescue teams will rise to the challenge in the event of an emergency: ‘Helicopter and lifeboat crews respond to varied incidents on a range of boats and assess and evaluate how they are going to handle any incident when they arrive. A windfarm is no different – and at least it does not move around on the sea like vessels do!’ ‘In future, all renewable energy installations will be required to undergo a search and rescue assessment and to create an emergency response plan with the MCA and their local lifeboat stations.’ She also stresses that search and rescue teams will rise to the challenge in the event of an emergency: ‘Helicopter and lifeboat crews respond to varied incidents on a range of boats and assess and evaluate how they are going to handle any incident when they arrive. A windfarm is no different – and at least it does not move around on the sea like vessels do!’ Rhyl people Paul Archer-Jones, Second Coxswain at Rhyl lifeboat station, is a self-employed electrician. He also works on the service boats that take maintenance staff out to the local windfarms. ‘Because the turbines appear so big on the horizon, people think they must be close, but they’re 5 miles out. Five of the Rhyl crew have been or are involved in various roles within the construction and maintenance of the turbine towers.

I know other local people have been employed on the electrical/mechanical side of things. ‘During the building there wasn’t much noise or disruption for Rhyl.

I know other local people have been employed on the electrical/mechanical side of things. ‘During the building there wasn’t much noise or disruption for Rhyl. There was a bit of noise banging in the monopiles and then some upheaval setting up the cables, but the disruption was minimal.

‘People don’t realise how many will be built – particularly in the Thames estuary. The east coast of England will be dotted with them.

The North Hoyle farm has been good for charter boat fi shing and local anglers who fi sh nearby as the bases of the turbines attract molluscs and other marine creatures, which serve as a feeding ground for fi sh.

‘We’ve had two shouts near the windfarm. One was a 4-hour search with Llandudno and Hoylake lifeboats and the Anglesey RAF rescue helicopter. That was for fi ve people in thick fog. The other was to a motor sailing boat that had lost power.

All were landed safely.’ estuary. The east coast of England will be dotted with them.

The North Hoyle farm has been good for charter boat fi shing and local anglers who fi sh nearby as the bases of the turbines attract molluscs and other marine creatures, which serve as a feeding ground for fi sh.

‘We’ve had two shouts near the windfarm. One was a 4-hour search with Llandudno and Hoylake lifeboats and the Anglesey RAF rescue helicopter. That was for fi ve people in thick fog. The other was to a motor sailing boat that had lost power.

All were landed safely.’ .