Strategic Environmental Assessment mus...
October 18th, 2013 - An Bord Pleanála will not rule on any wind energy export project until such time as a Government commissioned Str... read more
Britain’s first wind turbines develo...
September 27th, 2013 - Britain’s first wind turbines developed on a stud farm Equine industry can co-exist with wind industry Wind tu... read more
Thoroughbred breeders undermining new ...
Thoroughbred breeders undermining new export industry December 3rd, 2013 - Element Power, the company behind the wind energy project, ... read more
‘Visit a wind farm for yourself’ a...
September 12th, 2013 - The CEO of Element Power Ireland, Tim Cowhig, has today invited people interested in learning first-hand how win... read more
Dermot Byrne appointed non-executive D...
October 25th - Element Power Ireland has announced that Dermot Byrne has been appointed non-executive director of Element Power’s Ir... read more
‘Stick to facts and allow people mak...
October 7th 2013 - 3,400 jobs already created in onshore wind in Ireland Campaigners leading the charge against onshore wind energy wou... read more
Watch our 'Living with Wind' series
November 28th, 2013 - Greenwire can be a major economic boost for counties Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath. There is the potential to create thousands of sustainable jobs by harnessing a free surplus natural resource and creating a new export industry for Ireland.
As a company with a proven track record in this area, Element Power fully appreciates that there is a certain amount of concern in some Midland communities regarding the potential impact of wind energy on people’s everyday lives. This is understandable given that wind energy is a relatively new concept in this area. Similar anxieties prevailed in many other parts of Ireland prior to wind farm development. In the vast majority of cases, those turbines are now fully accepted and welcomed by local communities.
However, as Element Power Ireland has stated publicly at regular intervals, people have nothing to fear from wind energy. There are presently 1,300 onshore turbines operational in Ireland with more than 225,000 located in 79 countries across the globe yet there is no evidence of any adverse effect on property valuation or human health which can be directly attributed to an adjacent wind turbine.
In fact, people have been living and working beside wind farms for more than 30 years. Wind energy is a growing source of electricity around the world because governments and utilities have found a reliable and safe partner for the production of electricity. Moreover, wind energy provides electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or air pollutants, and uses no fresh water to generate electricity – creating a healthier environment for people and wildlife.
Might we invite you to take time to view the two programmes in our Living with Wind series which were filmed in Counties Tipperary, Cork, Kerry and Mayo in September/October 2013 where local people give a first-hand account of living in the vicinity of wind turbines. For people genuinely interested in learning if wind turbines might impact on their daily lives, we would say it is compulsory viewing.
Element Power invites everybody to make up their own minds about wind energy and if possible, to visit a wind farm for themselves or speak to people who are familiar with the industry.
Strategic Environmental Assessment must precede planning decision – Element Power
October 18th, 2013 - An Bord Pleanála will not rule on any wind energy export project until such time as a Government commissioned Strategic Environmental Assessment is in place according to CEO of Element Power Ireland, Tim Cowhig.
Element Power is fully committed to working within that overall policy and planning framework as was announced by Minister Pat Rabbitte on July 31st last.
The SEA should not be confused with the Department of the Environment guidelines, a draft of which is due to be published next month. These guidelines will then be the subject of a public consultation process with a view to a final version being published around mid-2014. Element Power does not intend applying for planning permission ahead of these guidelines being agreed.
Element Power was the first company to start a programme of consultation and engagement with stakeholders as well as the general public in respect of its plans to create an Irish export market for wind energy, and will continue this important work while the SEA is being prepared for Government. To this end, the company has appointed a team of Community Liaison Officers who manage an enormous requirement for information regarding Greenwire across the five Midland counties in which its project is proposed.
Element Power believes this activity needs to continue to satisfy public demand and provide answers and information to communities regarding Greenwire and wind energy in general. The company would consider it a discourtesy to discontinue its dialogue with the large number of groups with which it is presently consulting. Putting the project on hold would only jeopardise the ability to deliver the project and the substantial economic benefits which it can bring to the Midlands and Ireland Inc.
Element Power accepts and understands that there are some concerns regarding wind energy as with any major new infrastructural project. However, it is fully committed to working through these issues by providing information and engaging with open-minded groups as it has in the past with other wind farms.
There is the potential to develop a brand new export industry in the Midlands with significant job creation and investment. There is no cost to the Irish taxpayer, all cabling will be underground and local communities, landowners and county councils can benefit financially.
People have been living and working beside wind farms for more than 30 years. Wind energy is a growing source of electricity around the world because governments and utilities have found a reliable and safe partner for the production of electricity. Moreover, wind energy provides electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or air pollutants and uses no fresh water to generate electricity – creating a healthier environment for people and wildlife.
Britain’s first wind turbines developed on a stud farm - Equine industry can co-exist with wind industry
September 27th, 2013 - Britain’s first wind turbines developed on a stud farm
Equine industry can co-exist with wind industry
Wind turbines can co-exist with the equine industry in Ireland as they do across the world according to Element Power Ireland.
A significant percentage of the 225,000 turbines which are presently operating across the world are on agricultural land which is utilised for a range of purposes including rearing livestock and the breeding of thoroughbred horses.
The first onshore wind farm in Britain which became operational in 1991 was developed on the site of a stud farm. This wind farm, which has since been expanded, is in Delabole in Cornwall. Young horses are regularly broken in within 50 metres of wind turbines there and are ridden through the wind farm site.
In addition to having no impact on the horses, animals and activities at the adjacent Camel Valley Riding Club haven’t reported any disturbance from the turbines.
Furthermore, in 2007 a nine turbine wind farm was developed at Stags Holt in the Fenlands in Cambridgeshire on a site adjoining a stud farm. This wind farm was subsequently extended to almost double its original size in 2010 and there have been no issues with the owners of the stud.
“It is factually incorrect to claim wind energy might interfere with breeding or raising and training of thoroughbreds. There is no credible evidence for this, the Delabole and Stags Holt experiences prove that the wind and equine sectors can co-exist very easily and harmoniously”, said Chief Development Officer of Element Power Ireland, Kevin O’Donovan.
Delabole also became a significant tourist attraction with 350,000 visitors being received in its first 10 years of operation. Modern turbines make little noise and the blades are quite thin, making them non-threatening, according to many horse owners who own or ride horses near wind turbines.
“We should bear in mind that in addition to the very substantial community benefits and income to local authorities, opponents of the project are also denying landowners in the Midlands, the opportunity to develop a fixed and substantial new private income stream from promoting wind energy on their holdings. Greenwire is also in line with Irish Government policy of exporting renewable energy at a time when our economy and the Midlands is crying out for investment and jobs”, concluded Mr O’Donovan.
At zero cost to Irish taxpayer, a clean green industry can be established in the Midlands to rival the Irish dairy industry in due course. Greenwire can create thousands of construction and long term jobs, contribute €1.25billion in rental and rate payments over its 25 year project lifespan in addition to €250million in multi-faceted Community Benefit Programme for counties Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.
Note to reader:
Please see video link below produced by the British Horse Society which demonstrates how horses and the wind industry can co-exist harmoniously and be of benefit to eachother.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc22vxAcK8s
Thoroughbred breeders undermining new export industry
Thoroughbred breeders undermining new export industry
December 3rd, 2013 - Element Power, the company behind the wind energy project, Greenwire, has called into question the actions of the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association (ITBA) in opposing a safe clean renewable export industry in the Midlands.
Wind turbines are a common feature on the landscape across the globe with more than 225,000 machines located in 79 different countries. There are presently 1,300 wind turbines in Ireland sustaining 3,400 jobs here and co-existing harmoniously with neighbours, agriculture and wildlife.
“It is quite disappointing that a sector which has benefitted from hundreds of millions of euro of Government support and incentives, should now seek to scupper a new export industry which can be developed at zero cost to the Irish taxpayer creating valuable employment and significant economic activity in the process. It actually displays a blatant disregard for the wide range of people, organisations and local authorities who stand to benefit from exporting wind energy”, said Tim Cowhig, CEO of Element Power Ireland.
Every Government in the developed world including Ireland, has a policy of supporting the development of onshore wind energy. The fact is that wind energy is clean, renewable and a very efficient way of generating electricity thereby reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating a cleaner environment as a result.
“To launch a campaign opposing investment, jobs and significant other community benefits without any evidence to back-up ‘concerns’ is a very serious and irresponsible step. Is the campaign based on innuendo and hearsay? Element Power is not aware of any direct link which shows wind turbines negatively impact on horses, humans or any other animal for that matter. Moreover, we met the ITBA last September and explained all this to them. They have actually admitted that there is no evidence to substantiate their concerns”, said Mr Cowhig.
The first onshore wind farm in Britain which became operational in 1991 was actually developed on the site of a stud farm. This wind farm, which has since been expanded, is in Delabole in Cornwall. Young horses are regularly broken in within 50 metres of wind turbines there and are ridden through the wind farm site. In addition to having no impact on the horses, animals and activities at the adjacent Camel Valley Riding Club haven’t reported any disturbance from the turbines.
Furthermore, in 2007 a nine turbine wind farm was developed at Stags Holt in the Fenlands in Cambridgeshire on a site adjoining a stud farm. This wind farm was subsequently extended to almost double its original size in 2010 and there have been no issues with the owners of the stud.
Please see video links below produced by Element Power and the British Horse Society which demonstrate how horses and the wind industry can co-exist harmoniously and be of benefit to eachother.
https://vimeo.com/nomosproductions/review/78251245/6c500a18de
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc22vxAcK8s
‘Visit a wind farm for yourself’ advises Element Power CEO
September 12th, 2013 - The CEO of Element Power Ireland, Tim Cowhig, has today invited people interested in learning first-hand how wind turbines operate harmoniously in a community to visit a wind farm for themselves.
“For many months, we have been listening to wildly inaccurate claims and false statements being made about wind turbines from a minority of people who want to scupper an opportunity for jobs and investment in the Midlands.
‘I would strongly recommend to people who genuinely wish to understand and experience being in the vicinity of wind turbines, to pay a visit to a wind farm. The Irish Wind Energy Association’s website - www.iwea.com - gives a list of all the wind farms which are operating in Ireland today amounting to approximately 1,300 turbines. Time spent researching the subject for yourself by watching and listening to a wind turbine up close would put paid to all of the misleading claims which are being by those scare-mongering. There is nothing quite like seeing it for yourself to make up your own mind”, said Mr Cowhig.
Questioning the motivation of those who quote self-proclaimed experts or online blogs which have little or no credibility, Mr Cowhig said that the potential effects of a wind farm are assessed as part of the planning process before any construction might be allowed to proceed. “Our company is committed to providing factual information reviewed by experts as opposed to opinions, gossip and hearsay. I have said before and I will say again, there is no evidence of any direct negative health impact as a result of living near a wind turbine”, concluded Mr Cowhig.
Wind energy provides electricity without emitting greenhouse gases or air pollutants, and uses no fresh water to generate electricity – creating a healthier environment for people and wildlife. Onshore wind farms provide energy security, and contribute to the local and national economy.
Wind energy is one of the fastest growing major sources of new electricity on the planet. Every developed country in the world is pursuing a pro-wind energy policy. In 2012 alone, global wind energy capacity grew by 19 per cent. Here in Ireland, we have one of the best wind resources in Europe.
Greenwire supports Irish Government policy to export renewable energy. In January, 2013, a Memorandum of Understanding signed between British and Irish Governments to facilitate renewable energy trading. At zero cost to Irish taxpayer, a clean green industry can be established in the Midlands to rival the Irish dairy industry in due course.
In total, the project can create thousands of construction and long term jobs, contribute €1.25billion in rental and rate payments over its 25 year project lifespan in addition to €250million in multi-faceted Community Benefit Programme for counties Kildare, Laois, Meath, Offaly and Westmeath.
Dermot Byrne appointed non-executive Director of Element Power Ireland
October 25th - Element Power Ireland has announced that Dermot Byrne has been appointed non-executive director of Element Power’s Irish subsidiary.
“Dermot Byrne is one of the most experienced executives in the Irish energy industry, and I am delighted that he has agreed to join Element Power Ireland to support us in this exciting stage in our growth strategy, including our Ireland to UK export project Greenwire” commented Mike O’Neill, CEO of Element Power Europe. “Dermot’s acceptance of this position is a firm testament to Element Power’s vision and market standing, and we value the hands-on experience and strategic advice that he has to offer” he added.
Dermot Byrne retired as Chief Executive of EirGrid – the Transmission System Operator for Ireland – in September 2012. He left having developed EirGrid into a group structure with responsibilities in Northern Ireland and Ireland, comprising EirGrid TSO, System Operator Northern Ireland (SONI Ltd.), and the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO). His tenure also saw the successful completion of the €600m East West Interconnector, the development and implementation of the Grid25 strategy, and the establishment of EirGrid as a world leader in the integration of wind power into the power system. He brings a wealth of relevant experience to Element Power’s Irish activity.
Since its inception in 2010, Element Power Ireland has cemented its position with the successful development, financing, construction and management of wind projects for the Irish market. In addition it has developed Greenwire, a series of proposed wind farms of up to 3,000MW in the midlands of Ireland that will be directly connected to the UK grid to help meet 2020 renewable energy targets more affordably.
‘Stick to facts and allow people make up their own minds’ – Element Power CEO
October 7th 2013 - 3,400 jobs already created in onshore wind in Ireland
Campaigners leading the charge against onshore wind energy would do well to stick to the facts in the debate about an industry which is well established across the globe according to Element Power Ireland CEO, Tim Cowhig.
“I’ve heard anti-wind campaigners claim that there will be 2,500 wind turbines developed in the Midlands. Even if all proposed projects were added together, this figure is wildly inaccurate. Not only has this number not been proposed but even if it were, it wouldn’t be allowed by our planning authorities because there isn’t room for that scale of wind development in the Midlands.
“When the original planning guidelines for wind energy were set down in 2006, there had been planning applications approved for wind turbines standing at 120 metres high in Kilgarvan in Co Kerry”, stated Mr Cowhig.
At Lisheen in Tipperary, there is a 30 turbine wind farm with machines of 140 metres in height where the local community is very positively disposed to wind energy having had reservations at the outset. Planning permission was granted for the first phase of this wind farm in 2007.
“As Minister Pat Rabbitte said in recent days, ‘It is not true that the skies over the midlands will be blighted by wind turbines. It is not true that communities will be excluded from inputting into the process. It is not true that we will be giving away a valuable indigenous resource. It is not true that we will be exporting green energy at the expense of meeting our own mandatory domestic targets. It is not true that there are no jobs for local people in developing an export sector in green energy.’
“We are sometimes asked by anti-wind campaigners about how they will explain the presence of turbines to their children 20 years from now. I would respond by querying if those opponents would prefer to deprive the Midlands of the opportunity to establish a new industry in addition to the revenue, employment and spin-off benefits which this can clean sustainable sector can generate. It stands to reason that there will be significant local employment since technicians, engineers and other support staff would have to live quite close to the turbines.
“We will continue our extensive programme of community consultation over the course of the next year prior to submitting a planning application. In addition to the eight public information days we held in the five counties, we have distributed in excess of 40,000 newsletters and information booklets to interested parties in the Midlands. Our website, www.greenwire.ie and lo-call 1890 number have provided information on request and we have received feedback from more than 6,000 of members of the public. In addition to stakeholders, we continue to meet numerous voluntary community groups, development associations, local enterprise bodies and sporting clubs. Indeed we are always available to meet people open to learning about the project to provide factual and accurate information. The majority of people we engage with support what we are doing and the feedback has been very helpful and constructive”, concluded Mr Cowhig.
“I would appeal to all sides of the debate to stick to the facts, take time to visit a wind farm and speak to the thousands of people who live beside the 1,300 wind turbines already operating in Ireland. That’s the best way to learn for yourself and disregard the untruths and scare-mongering being spread by a small misguided minority. It is important that a silent majority who are in favour of our project and its benefits are not disregarded”, concluded Mr Cowhig.
Greenwire can be a serious long-term source of income for the council as well as local communities and landowners. It is important to re-emphasise that people have nothing to fear from wind energy, there are presently 1,300 onshore turbines operational in Ireland with more than 225,000 machines located in 79 countries across the globe yet there is no evidence of any significant negative impact which can be directly attributed to an adjacent wind turbine.