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Introduction
Moving to renewable energy
There is a need to develop renewable energy resources as part
of a strategy to reduce CO2 emissions and the impact of global
warming. This can involve wind, wave, and tidal energy schemes,
although wind power is likely to be more widespread, as suitable
locations for the extraction of energy from waves and tides are
fewer.
The development of offshore wind farms is a new activity, so we
do not have full knowledge of the potential impacts and the scale
of such impacts. Current developments are small, but plans for
the use of wind energy currently include the proposed building
of large wind farms (up to 500 turbines) in shallow coastal waters.
Negative impacts include loss of habitat, the potential for bird
collisions, a change in current and sediment dynamics, and an
increased risk of ship collisions. The benefits include the use
of a sustainable, pollution-free energy source.
ICES 2003
Climate change is a global environmental problem that requires
urgent and effective global-to-local solutions to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions. It is the most serious environmental challenge
to face the Earth system and the intrinsically linked social,
economic and ecological systems upon which we depend for our livelihoods,
welfare and survival.
If we are to successfully mitigate the potential impacts
of global climate change — on species, habitats and biodiversity,
as well as on people and their livelihoods — and hope to
avoid catastrophic regime shifts involving entire social-ecological
systems; or if we are to effectively transform and adapt
to those regime shifts and environmental impacts that are now
inevitable (e.g. the loss of low-lying coastal lands, communities
and cities, with massive human population displacement, infrastructure
loss and socio-economic consequences), we must take individual
and collective action now.
Renewable energy sources such as wind, wave and
tide are defined as clean energy sources that occur naturally
and repeatedly in the environment and can be harnessed for human
benefit. One main benefit of using renewable energy technologies
for electricity generation is that they produce neither greenhouse
gas emissions nor waste.
WWF 2005
The goal of achieving a socially and ecologically sustainable
pathway is greatly dependent upon the successful development and
implementation of renewable energy technologies. The only other
"alternative", nuclear energy,
is no alternative at all due to the intrinsic risks of accident,
attack, and the overwhelming and unavoidable nuclear waste problem.
The marine environment, in particular the coastal waters around
the island of Ireland, has a major role to play in our ability
to harness renewable energy resources. However, there are potential
problems as well as potential benefits. Every offshore development
has an environmental impact. Increasing the number of offshore
developments increases the cumulative impact. Developments must
be sited sensitively to avoid and mitigate impacts on ecosystems,
and sensitive species and habitats. Careful spatial planning is
required to manage the potential interactions between offshore
developments and other human activities taking place in the same
area.
Ireland is currently the ninth most oil-dependent
economy in the world.
At present, 95% of Ireland's energy comes from fossil fuels, of
which 90% are imported.
For every barrel of oil added to known reserves, five barrels
are being consumed. As a consequence, total reserves are now at
their peak and will decline steadily until oil runs out in approximately
2050/2060. (Irish Times)
In 2005 renewables provided just 2.4% of Ireland's total energy
consumption. Oil provided 57.4%, gas 22.3%, coal 11.8%, peat/turf
5.0% and electricity imports from the UK 1.1%.
Sustainable Energy Ireland
It is a European Union policy to increase the share of renewable
energy to 13.2% by 2010. Wind Energy will play a major role in
achieving these EU targets … Recent Technological advances,
more favourable wind conditions at sea than on land and environmental
concerns regarding visual and noise impacts in relation to onshore
wind farms have prompted the development of offshore wind farms.
Marine Institute
As we finally move away from the perception of the sea as a convenient
sink for our wastes, there is an unfortunate and growing trend
towards viewing the offshore environment as the "best place"
for large-scale wind farm developments, which would otherwise
be sited on land.
The reality of global climate change means that we need a mix
of renewable energy sources, and a mix of highland, coastal and
offshore sites for such developments. Yes, we must capitalise
on the fact that the offshore wind and wave resources around Ireland
are some of the best in Europe. But each proposed site and development
must be subjected to thorough project-level environmental and
social impact assessment (EIA), conducted within an integrated
management framework of strategic environmental and social assessment
(SEA), and integrated spatial planning across EU, national, regional
and local scales. This applies equally to wind, wave and tidal
energy projects.
Regarding tidal barrages and lagoons, Marine Work Group Ireland
has yet to be convinced that the benefits will ever outweigh the
likely negative impacts to estuarine environments and social-ecological
systems (see Tidal Energy).
As technology evolves, it is likely that large-scale wind and
wave energy developments will be proposed for sites further offshore
and in deeper waters, posing new individual and cumulative impacts
as well as some benefits to the marine environment (e.g. exclusion
zones managed as Marine Protected Areas).
It will not be sufficient for developers and regulatory authorities
to merely transfer research studies, EIAs and licensing procedures
concerning relatively near-shore, shallow-water wind farm and
wave energy projects to such open ocean developments.
Therefore, before offshore renewables development is encouraged
with financial incentives and projects come off the drawing board
— in accordance with accepted guiding principles (e.g. precautionary
principle, best environmental practice, best available technology),
EU policy and international conventions — it is vital that
Ireland first puts into place a comprehensive maritime governance
framework ("oceans policy") and an integrated, ecosystem-based
approach to the management of human activities affecting the ocean
and coastal environment, including strategic and spatial marine
area planning. Without any further delay.
No further offshore developments of any kind (wind, wave,
tidal, oil and gas, aquaculture, etc.) should be considered, encouraged
or licensed in Ireland's territorial waters or EEZ until such
developments can be properly planned and managed.
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