PLANNED WINDFARMS in South-East Clare have been labelled as a threat to Irish air safety with formal objections lodged by AirNav Ireland and Shannon Airport.
Within South-East Clare, there are proposals for three separate developments. Ørsted are applying to build eleven turbines with a tip height of 180m in Oatfield. FuturEnergy Knockshanvo DAC is applying for planning permission for the construction and operation of a nine turbine wind farm and associated site development works in Knockshanvo.
All three proposed windfarm developments are classed as Strategic Infrastructure Developments and are currently in the planning process which is being considered by An Bord Pleanála (ACP).
Last month, an oral hearing by ACP into a planned 50MW wind-farm was cancelled at the eleventh hour. This oral hearing is in relation to the plans of Limerick firm, Ballycar Green Energy for a 12 turbine wind-farm to be located 3km northwest of Limerick city. The proposed 140-hectare site is located within the townlands of Cappateemore East, Ballycannan East, Ballycar South, Ballycar North, and Glennagross. 74 third-party submissions have been received by ACP for this development.
FuturEnergy Ireland has said that the 50MW (Mega-Watt) windfarm would provide enough clean energy to power 48,656 homes annually and save 1.6m tonnes of carbon emissions, estimating a community benefit fund in the region of €6.5m.
Both AirNav Ireland and the Shannon Airport Group have raised concerns on the impact to aviation of the Oatfield wind farm. They have objected on three previous occasions to plans within Oatfield by different developers.
In a submission to ACP, AirNav warned, “In relation to the surveillance MSSR beam deflection in the case of Woodcock Hill en route MSSR there are no mitigations possible in our view and in the absence of in-service evidence that wind turbines erected within comparable ranges of enroute radar systems do not generate deflections, AirNav cannot support this development as it stands”.
Coverage gaps will arise from the shadows off the turbines posing an additional challenge for air traffic controllers, AirNav warned. “The shadowing effect of the turbines will introduce coverage gaps in controlled airspace and this will result in a change to the surveillance functional system and degradation of the probability of detection. The AirNav change management systems approved by the IAA does not allow for the functional systems changes that are less safe than the original system. AirNav Ireland strongly objects to any further progress with this development on this basis”.
Surveillance (radar) impacts, instrument flight procedures impacts and navigation aids impacts particularly relating to the instrument landing system serving Shannon Airport have been addressed by the developer but remain a concern for AirNav Ireland.
Shannon Airport have stressed that no decision should be made on the development until the data has been collated, assessed and conclusions formed on the assessments of the NAVAIDs and IFP impacts associated with the Oatfield development.
Safety, compliance and environment manager with Shannon Airport, Paul Hennessy in their submission stated, “Shannon Airport recognises and supports the importance of sustainable energy developments, particularly those in and around the Shannon Estuary as evidenced by our contribution to the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce and our support for its recommendations for the development of offshore wind. Broadly, we remain supportive of initiatives that promote more sustainable energy provided they do not pose a risk to aviation or airport safety or compromise the safeguarding of the aerodome which we have a statutory duty to protect. However in relation to this development referenced above due to the significant impacts identified by AirNav Ireland and in the absence of in-service evidence demonstrating that wind turbines located within comparable ranges of enroute radar systems specifically Woodcock Hill Radar do not interfere with operations, Shannon Airport must strongly object to any further progress on this development”.
When questioned by The Clare Echo on whether they could guarantee no threat to air safety in the county a spokesperson for Ørsted outlined, “The Ørsted Onshore Ireland team have a long history of investing in County Clare with Booltiagh Windfarm operating successfully in the community for 20 years.
“Our recent proposal for Oatfield Windfarm is in the planning process. The project consists of 11-turbines with a tip height of up to 180m, a rotor diameter of up to 150m and a hub height of up to 110m. We have engaged extensively with all stakeholders, including internationally-recognised aviation specialists, throughout the planning process to optimise the design and await a decision from An Coimisiún Pleanála in due course”.
East Clare Environmental Protection has been formed by local residents to try fight the plans. They have written to Ryanair Chief Executive, Michael O’Leary to advise him of the “urgent aviation safety concerns” affecting airports in Shannon and Dublin. “These three projects, collectively known as part of the ‘East Clare Windpark’ propose over 30 turbines of 180–200 meters on elevated terrain less than 20 km from Shannon Airport. We believe that these proposed windfarms are situated in an entirely unsuitable area that will generate undesirable aviation impacts both locally, nationally including Dublin, and internationally, representing a risk to Ryanair’s business and business model”.
“All three proposals remain undecided by ACP and the risk remains that they may be approved despite the far-reaching aviation and aviation safety impacts they would generate. Although sited near Shannon, these projects create direct risks to Dublin Airport operations. The Woodcock Hill radar feeds not only Shannon ACC but also Dublin Approach sectors. Large turbines on elevated ground cause clutter, shadowing and false targets, degrading controllers’ ability to maintain separation on Dublin arrivals and departures — particularly in low-visibility or emergency situations,” the residents outlined.
