The team behind the 100MW Fair Head Tidal energy project in Northern Ireland says it has now completed over 95% of the offshore survey work required to support a planning application for its seabed turbines.
In an update circulated to a wide range of project stakeholders including organisations in the Ballycastle and Rathlin areas, the Fair Head Tidal project company says good progress is being made on the proposal to develop an array of tidal turbines located on the seabed about 2km east of Fair Head.
Clodagh McGrath , Fair Head Tidal project manager, says the company is within one month of completing a 24 month bird and marine mammal survey programme.
This is bolstered by the completion of other onshore and offshore surveys, including visits to potential cable landfall sites and a campaign of tidal measurements over the winter months.
“Talks have also progressed positively with government agencies, regulators and the grid owners with regards to accessing available capacity in the Ballycastle area for grid connection,” says McGrath .
Fair Head Tidal has confirmed that there will be further engagement with the public and stakeholders regarding the proposal, with another round of local open days ahead of submission of a formal planning application.
McGrath says: “We are keen to share further information on our plans. Our priority continues to be the delivery of a tidal energy scheme which will generate clean, emissions free, predictable and sustainable energy. We believe such a scheme will bring benefits to the local area and the wider Northern Ireland economy, both during construction and operation.”
Image: DP Energy