scarweather sands

Scarweather Sands campaign: taking positive action to help stop climate change

Posted by bex — 7 July 2004 at 6:46pm - Comments
Why is Scarweather Sands important?
The stakes in the energy debate are extremely high. UN scientists agree that, because of global warming caused by burning fossil fuels, we will experience more droughts, floods and storms from now on. For South Wales, climate change means more coastal flooding and wetter, stormier weather.

Despite the obvious need for new clean energy sources, some local opposition to the wind farm proposal triggered a public inquiry. With the inquiry set to start in November 2003, we took to the streets of Porthcawl to see what local people really thought...

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather sands wind farm given the go-ahead by Welsh Assembly

Posted by bex — 7 July 2004 at 8:00am - Comments
Scarweather wind farm get the green light

Scarweather wind farm get the green light

Our nine-month campaign to promote the development of a large wind farm off the coast of Porthcawl, South Wales, paid off yesterday when the planning committee of the Welsh Assembly agreed to back the proposal.

Following a public inquiry, held last November, the committee has approved proposals for thirty 120 metre turbines, situated between 3.5 and 4.3 miles off the coast. On completion the turbines will meet 10% of the renewable energy target set by the Welsh Assembly.

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wales, welsh assembly, wind power

Renewables in practice: Greenpeace supports offshore wind farm proposal in Swansea Bay

Posted by bex — 22 November 2003 at 9:00am - Comments

A pioneering new wind farm will put South Wales at the forefront of the UK's clean energy future. Scarweather Sands off-shore wind farm will produce enough electricity to meet the needs of 80,000 homes - that's equivalent to a town the size of Swansea.


The developments at Scarweather Sands, off Rest Bay in Porthcawl provide an excellent example of the push towards renewable energy. It's an opportunity to highlight the advantages and dispel some of the myths surrounding the development of this new, clean alternative to fossil fuels.

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, swansea bay, wales, wind power

Support for welsh wind farm over three times greater than opposition

Posted by bex — 3 November 2003 at 9:00am - Comments
Poll results reveal 3 times as many in favour of wind power

Poll results reveal 3 times as many in favour of wind power

More than three times as many local residents support an offshore windfarm proposal in South Wales than oppose it, according to results of an independent poll carried out by ICM research.

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, swansea bay, wales, wind power

Thousands of letters of support written for Scarweather windfarm

Last edited 27 October 2003 at 9:00am
27 October, 2003

Almost 9,000 letters and e-postcards in support of the proposed Scarweather Sands windfarm in Swansea Bay have been sent to the Welsh Assembly ahead of the public inquiry into the development.

2,874 letters and 5,727 e-postcards have flooded in from supporters of clean, green renewable energy in South Wales. The letters have now all been submitted to the inquiry, while the number of e-postcards sent is growing by around 20 a day.

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, press releases, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather Sands: Won't ruin the view

Last edited 23 July 2003 at 8:00am
Offshore wind farm, oeresund

Offshore wind farm, oeresund

There has been some concern raised locally that the proposed wind farm would ruin the view of Swansea Bay. This is clearly a highly subjective issue. The nearest turbine will be 3 miles from shore and visible on the horizon like the mast of a tall ship. Being visible is not necessarily the same as being intrusive. While some people dislike turbines, others, including Greenpeace, see them as elegant and beautiful - symbols of a better, less polluted future. In comparison to nuclear, coal and gas power stations, or open cast mining, wind farms have relatively little visual impact.

Article tagged as: climate change, hachette, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather Sands: turbines won't harm the surf

Posted by bex — 22 July 2003 at 8:00am - Comments
wind turbines at sea

wind turbines at sea

This wind farm won't harm the surf. The waves at Porthcawl are powerful - they have travelled across the Atlantic. They also have a long average wavelength which means that they are physically big. To absorb or diffract any noticeable amount of their energy would take an enormous obstruction. The wind farm is simply not big enough to have a significant effect on the power of the waves. Even with the biggest of the foundations (concrete gravity foundations which use blocks around 3m high) the waves simply won't 'notice' that there is an obstruction. The turbines are so widely spaced (each one at least a third of a mile apart) that from the waves point of view over 98 % of the wind farm is just open sea!

Porthcawl is a significant surfing location and an important part of the UK surf scene and industry. The wind farm at Scarweather Sands will in no way undermine this. In fact it is part of an important shift to clean energy in the UK that will help tackle climate change (that threatens all our beaches) and marine pollution - so it is good for water users and the environment.

Article tagged as: climate change, hachette, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather sands: no negative environmental impact

Last edited 22 July 2003 at 8:00am
wind turbines at sunset

wind turbines at sunset

A crucial part of getting the go-ahead for any wind power proposal is an assessment of the potential environmental impacts that may occur. By law, the developer has to pay a consultant to assess these impacts. This process is called an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). It covers all stages of the development (building, operation, and decommissioning). The EIA looks at potential ecological effects and also any potential impacts on natural processes like coastal erosion, or on human activities such as fishing.

Article tagged as: hachette, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather Sands: wind farms are safe and clean

Last edited 22 July 2003 at 8:00am
wind power at work

wind power at work

Wind energy is clean and endlessly renewable. Along with wave, tidal and solar it is the cleanest, safest form of energy there is. The Scarweather Sands wind farm won't affect 'Blue Flag' status of local beaches. It won't damage the surf. Unlike gas and coal power stations, it won't contribute to global warming and unlike nuclear power it won't leave us with a legacy of dangerous radioactive waste.

Article tagged as: climate change, hachette, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power

Scarweather Sands: The wind farm could boost the local economy

Last edited 22 July 2003 at 8:00am
Offshore wind farm, oeresund

Offshore wind farm, oeresund

Article tagged as: climate change, offshore wind, renewable energy, scarweather sands, wind power