Two new renewables projects with possible sailing impacts

[Nick]

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MCT have announced a lease agreement for Kyle Rhea for the installation of four tidal devices similar to the one operating in the Strangford narrows, and SSE have announced plans for an offshore wind turbine test facility at Hunterston.

MORE DETAILS HERE

(Unlikely there will be anything more than visual impact in the case of the Hunterston project, and I think we can live with that - but four large MCT devices in Kyle Rhea could make navigation even more interesting than it already is)

[Arghiro]

Tide generators planned for off Holyhead (between Carmel Head & the Skerries rock light http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-nort ... s-12912553 & also in Ramsey Sound http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12929493


The one off Anglesey is the same type as the Strangford Loch one.

[DaveS]

While I can understand that the MCT design is convenient for maintenance, the fixed structure is undoubtedly a navigational hazard. Since it is possible to design turbines (like those planned for the Sound of Islay) that do not create a surface vessel hazard, it is difficult to understand why types that do are allowed. Given the dramatic tides in Kyle Rhea the danger to yachts is obvious, but a small miscalculation by one of the larger vessels which transits the area would also take out the turbine.

Why create potential conflict when it is unnecessary?

[Arghiro]

Any big ship trying to pass inside of the Skerries is likely to face an inquiry if anything went wrong (and there is plenty to go wrong for deep draft ships round there). Don't forget there is a TSS round that corner of Anglesey & it is well outside the Skerries light.

Not sure about Ramsey sound, but it is probably similar.

The waters are generally a lot shallower in the Irish Sea than off the W Coast up there!

[DaveS]

I've been doing some digging to try to see exactly where they're proposing to put these structures (ideally a sketch chart as per the Sound of Islay proposal). No luck as yet, but the following is from the company's magazine (my emphasis):

UK tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines, is targeting 2013 to install Scotland’s first tidal energy farm. The company, which designed and deployed the world’s first commercial scale offshore tidal stream energy system in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough, is investigating the feasibility of a tidal farm in Kyle Rhea, a strait of water between the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland.

The project will have the capacity to generate electricity for up to 4,000 homes in the Highlands & Islands by harnessing the power of the fast tidal currents that pass through Kyle Rhea 14 hours a day. It will also give a multi-million pound boost to the Highlands & Islands economy as local businesses can expect to participate in the tidal farm’s installation, operation and maintenance.

The development of the project is subject to securing a lease agreement from The Crown Estate, securing planning approval from Marine Scotland (part of the Scottish Government) and raising the finance for the project. Marine Current Turbines (MCT) estimates that the cost of the 5MW Kyle Rhea scheme, consisting of four SeaGen tidal units, will be £35million.

For the past nine months, MCT has undertaken a series of environmental and technical studies and consulted a range of local and national organisations. The work to date has confirmed the suitability of the site and subject to further studies being carried out and further consultations, MCT aims to submit a planning application towards the end of next year (2011).

MCT, with the support of the environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning (based in Edinburgh), has already consulted a range of organisations about its plans including the Highland Council and local councillors, Marine Scotland, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the Northern Lighthouse Board, the RSPB, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Glenelg and Arnisdale Development Trust and the RNLI based at Kyle of Lochalsh.
David Ainsworth, MCT’s Project Manager for the Kyle Rhea project, said: “Engagement with local interests is an important part of our work and so far the response to our plans has been generally positive. Our experience of working in Strangford Lough has been hugely valuable in taking forward our plans for Kyle Rhea, and has helped assure people about the impacts of deploying our technology. Next year, we will hold a public exhibition in Glenelg before our planning application is finalised to give local people the opportunity to find out more about the project and the benefits that it will bring.”

So something will be made publically available, but so far no consultation with the RYA or anyone else representing the interests of pleasure or commercial navigation. I might drop the RYA a line to see what, if anything they know about this.

Incidentally, digging through varying website shows a remarkable ignorance of where Kyle Rhea actually is. Two sites claim it is in the Western Isles and another provides a helpful illustration of what is actually Kyle Akin...

[Nick]

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Interestingly there was earlier talk by another company - Pulse Energy - of putting some 'nodding aerofoil' type devices in Kyle Rhea, and MCT sadi this would 'complement, not conflict with their development'

[Arghiro]

'S funny that, no charts of th eWelsh MCT plans either. I e-mailed the PR guy & he didn't have any, so he sent my mails to another bod, but that was only on Friday. If I hear, I will either pass on the contact, or ask for a plan of the Scottish one too.

[Nick]

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Here's the world's worst artists impression - doesn't look much like Kyle Rhea, but what is more worrying is that they can't count up to four accurately