Latest news with #Wind2
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Fears over impact of wind farm lights on Dark Sky Park
Campaigners are concerned that the UK's first Dark Sky Park could see its status at risk if a proposed energy development is approved. The Galloway site was first recognised in 2009 as one of the best places to view the night sky with the naked eye. The proposed Lairdmannoch Energy Park sits outside the park's boundary and buffer zone but planning documents show wind turbines and safety aviation lights would be visible from the area. The new site's developer - Wind2 - says the company is "very aware" of the dark sky status and the value of "preserving the area's natural light skies." Aviation lights are an essential safety measure in tall developments to mitigate the risk of collision. The proposed development includes both red "medium-intensity" lights and infrared lights invisible to the eye. Developers say only four of the proposed nine 180m (590ft) wind turbines would include red aviation lights, after consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority. They also stress the energy park was not within the Dark Sky Park or its designated buffer zone. Matthew McFadzean is one of two dark sky rangers at the Galloway Forest Park. He said the project created a "detrimental" threat to night time visibility. "You can come to Dumfries and Galloway and experience a really good level of light quality at night and night vision across the region," he said. "But if you go into the Dark Sky Park, that's where you get the absolute best." Mr McFadzean believes visibility of the night sky has improved thanks to the lighting policies of the local authority over the two decades since the area secured its dark sky status. However, he said he concerned there had been an increasing encroachment of renewable energy developments on the park's boundaries. He said he understood the need to support the transition to renewable energy but added that red light - although it has a smaller impact than white light - could still harm night time visibility. "It will really impact things," he said. "In the Dark Sky Park, you can look up and see with the naked eye, thousands and thousands of stars on a clear night - more than people from the cities who come to visit can ever imagine. "The one word which people say the most when they actually experience looking up at a dark sky for the first time is wow and if we put red lights up there I think that can only be detrimental to that experience." His concerns are shared by by Fi McClelland of The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, which has plans to build a new facility in the park to replace the previous one, which was destroyed by fire. She said the red light effect could be scattered through the sky by clouds or cause a disruptive "sky glow" across the wider region. Campaigners say the elevated position of the turbines will see them dominate the landscape. "The combination of them both is over 1,300ft from sea level to the tip of the turbine - that's bigger than the Empire State Building without its antenna," resident Matthew James said. As well as the impact on the dark sky park, locals have raised concerns about the effect of the wind turbines on wildlife and the local water system. But developer Wind2 said it had been working with the community for two years and had taken steps to mitigate risks including potential threat to night time visibility and wildlife. It added it believed the area should see "tangible benefits from local renewable energy projects". It has estimated community benefit funding of £310,000 per year would add up to £12.4m over its operational life. It said the scheme - which also includes solar panels and battery storage - matched Scottish government's best practice guidance and could meet the energy needs of up to 67,000 homes. The company stressed it had taken every effort to make the turbines "as inconspicuous as possible from sensitive areas". The window for the public to comment on the proposals is about to close. The Scottish government - which will decide the fate of the scheme - said it would not be appropriate to comment on a live planning application. More like this story A decade of the UK's first Dark Sky Park
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Fears proposed energy park could hurt Galloway's dark sky status
Campaigners are concerned that the UK's first Dark Sky Park could see its status at risk if a proposed energy development is Galloway site was first recognised in 2009 as one of the best places to view the night sky with the naked proposed Lairdmannoch Energy Park sits outside the park's boundary and buffer zone but planning documents show wind turbines and safety aviation lights would be visible from the new site's developer - Wind2 - says the company is "very aware" of the dark sky status and the value of "preserving the area's natural light skies." Aviation lights are an essential safety measure in tall developments to mitigate the risk of proposed development includes both red "medium-intensity" lights and infrared lights invisible to the say only four of the proposed nine 180m (590ft) wind turbines would include red aviation lights, after consultation with the Civil Aviation also stress the energy park was not within the Dark Sky Park or its designated buffer zone. Matthew McFadzean is one of two dark sky rangers at the Galloway Forest said the project created a "detrimental" threat to night time visibility."You can come to Dumfries and Galloway and experience a really good level of light quality at night and night vision across the region," he said."But if you go into the Dark Sky Park, that's where you get the absolute best." Mr McFadzean believes visibility of the night sky has improved thanks to the lighting policies of the local authority over the two decades since the area secured its dark sky he said he concerned there had been an increasing encroachment of renewable energy developments on the park's said he understood the need to support the transition to renewable energy but added that red light - although it has a smaller impact than white light - could still harm night time visibility."It will really impact things," he said."In the Dark Sky Park, you can look up and see with the naked eye, thousands and thousands of stars on a clear night - more than people from the cities who come to visit can ever imagine. "The one word which people say the most when they actually experience looking up at a dark sky for the first time is wow and if we put red lights up there I think that can only be detrimental to that experience." His concerns are shared by by Fi McClelland of The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory, which has plans to build a new facility in the park to replace the previous one, which was destroyed by said the red light effect could be scattered through the sky by clouds or cause a disruptive "sky glow" across the wider say the elevated position of the turbines will see them dominate the landscape."The combination of them both is over 1,300ft from sea level to the tip of the turbine - that's bigger than the Empire State Building without its antenna," resident Matthew James said. As well as the impact on the dark sky park, locals have raised concerns about the effect of the wind turbines on wildlife and the local water developer Wind2 said it had been working with the community for two years and had taken steps to mitigate risks including potential threat to night time visibility and added it believed the area should see "tangible benefits from local renewable energy projects".It has estimated community benefit funding of £310,000 per year would add up to £12.4m over its operational said the scheme - which also includes solar panels and battery storage - matched Scottish government's best practice guidance and could meet the energy needs of up to 67,000 company stressed it had taken every effort to make the turbines "as inconspicuous as possible from sensitive areas".The window for the public to comment on the proposals is about to Scottish government - which will decide the fate of the scheme - said it would not be appropriate to comment on a live planning application.
ITV News
14-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
Campaigners say wind turbine plans will 'completely change' Galloway's landscape
Campaigners say plans to build nine wind turbines on a Galloway hillside will "completely change" its rural landscape. Renewable energy developer Wind2 says its Lairdmannoch Energy Park plans could generate enough power for more than sixty-five thousand homes and offset nearly 100,000 tonnes of carbon each year. Data collected across six community exhibitions in the area, over the last 18 months, revealed that only 24% of respondents said they support the proposal, while 33% said they are against the project, out of the 93 people surveyed. Matthew James, from Glengap Community Group, says the proposals - if approved - will be detrimental to the 'natural beauty' of Dumfries and Galloway. He said: "It will completely change it forever. These turbines would be nearly 600ft high. If you consider that the land it would be laid upon would be over seven hundred feet high, that's over 13ft high above the sea level, towering to the sky. That's slightly taller than the Empire State Building in New York. "At that height, it's imperative that they have to have aviation lights. They will glow in the sky and can be seen up to 36 miles away." Highlighting the potential impact on the area's Golden Eagle population, he added: "Golden Eagles are a protected species, they're iconic to Scotland, they're poignant to Scotland, they're part of its history in many respects. In August last year, at an energy park just north of here, one died because of the blades." 'We've conducted two years of extensive bird surveys as part of our Environmental Impact Assessment. This included collision risk modelling and population viability assessments, following best-practice guidance from NatureScot and the RSPB. Wind2 says they have conducted two years of bird surveys as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment. The company said: 'Golden Eagles have not been recorded at the site, although red kites are present in the wider area. Our assessments show the project poses, in planning terms, no unacceptable risk to protected species. "We remain open to further discussion with conservation groups, including those involved in the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project, to ensure we continue to align with environmental priorities." The planning application is currently under review with the Scottish Government. It's expected that the solar panels and up to nine wind turbines with heights of 180m would generate more than 220,000 megawatts of electricity per year. In a statement, Wind2 said: 'We understand the importance of the local landscape and recognise that people care deeply about the views around their homes and communities. 'Lairdmannoch Energy Park has been designed to reduce the visual impact where possible, particularly in relation to the Fleet Valley National Scenic Area, which lies approximately 5km west of the site. 'Our design team has taken great care to make the turbines as inconspicuous as possible from sensitive areas - there is very limited visibility from within the heart of the national scenic area. 'Lairdmannoch Energy Park isn't within a nationally designated area and therefore, under Scottish planning policy, the area is considered to have the capacity to accommodate renewable energy generation.' Local art historian Jo Chapman said: "For me, the whole of Galloway is such a special place in terms of archaeology, art history and history. The report is so vague about how they're actually going to avoid disrupting some of these archaeological sites." Residents Caroline and Vic Odell said: "There are a lot of fears about living here because we're going to hear them, quite definitely. It's going to ruin the dark sky area. There are so many, so many things. We don't need any more. We're overproducing in Dumfries and Galloway." Renewable energy developer Wind2 says they have agreed on a reduced lighting scheme with the Civil Aviation Authority, which means only four of the nine turbines will have lights installed. They also hope to deliver more than £300,000 per year in community benefit funding, totalling up to £9.3m over the project's operational lifetime of 30 years.
Powys County Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
MOD concerned over Powys wind farm affecting RAF training
Concerns have been raised about potential dangers to RAF planes that could be caused by a planned wind farm in Powys. The Banc Y Ceylin Wind Farm would border the Sennybridge Training area near Builth Wells and the plans on the site for 26 wind turbines with a maximum tip height of 200 metres have raised worries with the armed forces. It is understood the MOD has raised concerns over the impact of the windfarm on low flying military aircraft, which was now been highlighted by constituency MP David Chadwick. The Tactical Training Area known as "Low Flying Area 7(T)' sees military aircraft operate down to 100 ft above ground level – which is well below the 500 ft tip height of the planned turbines. The MOD can raise objections to plans which may affect national security and defence when it may affect defence sites such as the training area. The planned wind farm is a joint venture between Wind2 and companies managed by Octopus Energy Generation. The plans in a scoping report submitted to the Welsh Government noted a potential impact on the low flying area. MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick raised concerns after learning that the wind farm may impact the low-flying training zone. Mr Chadwick wrote to the MOD regarding concerns raised by local residents about the potential impact of the development. Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Attending a low-flying aircraft briefing last week, he said he was told that the proposed turbines could force low-flying aircraft to divert from key training areas. 'Low-flying training in mid Wales plays a vital role in keeping our armed forces prepared and ready,' said Mr Chadwick. "It is vital that all relevant information is now put on the table, that the MOD and RAF are fully aligned, and that local communities such as Merthyr Cynnog are kept properly informed. "We must strike the right balance between delivering clean energy and protecting the operational needs of our armed forces. I will continue to press for full transparency on this matter.' A spokesperson for Wind2 said: "From the outset, Wind2 has recognised the significance of SENTA and the associated safeguarding considerations. "We've been in ongoing discussions with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as part of our early development work, and that dialogue continues to ensure any potential concerns are fully understood and addressed. "In March 2025, we submitted a formal scoping request to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), with the scoping direction being issued on June 20. "We've also been in regular contact with Powys County Council as part of our broader engagement. We are fully committed to continue to work with all stakeholders. "It's also important to note that no planning application has been submitted.
