Latest news with #southcoast
BreakingNews.ie
27-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland's offshore wind targets in serious jeopardy, industry warns
Ireland's offshore wind targets are in serious jeopardy and need immediate action from the Government, an industry group has warned. Wind Energy Ireland (WEI) has launched a plan this week where it recommends the Government resource planning authorities and key state agencies, give clarity on grid access and offshore auctions, and prioritise port expansion to ensure projects can be built on time. Advertisement The plan welcomed the progress made by government in recent years and calls for fast action in the delivery of policy commitments, with proper resourcing and funding to reflect the seriousness of the Government's commitment to the sector. There are 24 targeted actions split across four delivery areas, which includes maximising the south coast Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP), including progressing the Tonn Nua site auction and the future development of sites Li Ban, Manannan and Danu; and building vital infrastructure, including investment in ports, grid capacity and industrial demand to support offshore wind growth. Wind Energy Ireland chief executive Noel Cunniffe said: 'This plan is about restoring confidence – at home and abroad – in Ireland's offshore wind potential. 'We know what needs to be done. The industry stands ready to deliver, but it cannot do so without political urgency and whole-of-government leadership. The steps we set out today are not theoretical – they are essential. Advertisement 'We are now in a decisive window. If we want offshore wind to play a central role in lowering consumer energy bills, securing Ireland's energy independence and cutting carbon emissions, we need a clear pathway forward. That means removing barriers, resourcing delivery and creating certainty for investors. Ireland Report shows wind energy saved Ireland over €1.2 b... Read More 'The actions laid out in the plan will de-risk investment, accelerate planning and grid processes and ensure that critical infrastructure such as ports and grid access are available in time.' The wind energy industry group said Irish wind farms provided 32 per cent of Ireland's electricity in 2024. The plan is being published to coincide with WEI's annual Offshore Wind Conference being held in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday. Advertisement
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Wind Energy Ireland warns immediate Government action needed ‘to protect' offshore wind ‘opportunity'
Ireland's 2030 offshore wind targets 'are in serious jeopardy, without decisive and immediate Government action', according to the Irish wind industry. 'We can – and will – develop offshore wind farms, but it's increasingly unlikely that will happen before the end of this decade,' Wind Energy Ireland says in a report on delivery of critical offshore projects to meet the State's renewables and climate targets. It details how offshore developers with projects in planning are subjected to requests for further information that will push back decisions, making grid connections by 2030 unlikely. An offshore wind action plan to be released at its annual offshore wind conference in Dublin on Tuesday sets out Government priorities to 'restore confidence in Ireland's ability to build a competitive, sustainable and robust offshore wind industry'. READ MORE Three offshore projects supported by the State contracts under 'phase one' developments are in planning, while four sites have been designated for development off the south coast, with 900 megawatts (MW) in the Tonn Nua area due to feature in a phase-two auction. WEI calls for a long-term framework that provides certainty and stability for future development through 24 targeted actions, split across four delivery areas. These include delivering phase-one projects; maximising the south coast designated maritime area plan (DMAP), and accelerating the national DMAP announced recently by Minister for Energy Darragh O'Brien 'to provide a long-term pipeline of projects for both fixed and floating wind'. Complementing this should be building vital infrastructure and demand strategies, it says, including investment in ports, grid capacity and industrial demand to support offshore wind growth. It calls for urgent resourcing of planning authorities and key State agencies; clarity on grid access and offshore auctions and prioritisation of port expansion to ensure projects are built on time. While the Government fully backed phase-one projects, 'unfortunately this is not always the reality experienced by the project teams', as some developers are encountering lengthy 'requests for further information'. 'While we welcome An Bord Pleanála has identified the need for ongoing engagement with relevant State agencies to support responses to the RFIs, many of the concerns set out could have been dealt with and resolved by now had they been raised at pre-planning stage by the relevant bodies or if requested engagements were forthcoming in relation to consultation submissions,' it adds. As a consequence it was likely that determinations may not be made until at least 2026, making it extremely difficult to deliver projects by 2030. These problems arose 'primarily because of resource deficiencies in the system', WEI adds. It calls for 'a review to be conducted immediately to identify gaps across all relevant agencies' and a plan to ensure engagement is better facilitated. WEI chief Noel Cunniffe said: 'We are now in a decisive window. If we want offshore wind to play a central role in lowering consumer energy bills, securing Ireland's energy independence and cutting carbon emissions, we need a clear pathway forward.' That meant removing barriers, resourcing delivery and creating certainty for investors. The proposed actions would de-risk investment, accelerate planning and grid processes and ensure critical infrastructure were available in time, Mr Cunniffe said. 'What we decide to do in the next 12 months will determine whether we have boats in the water constructing wind farms in 2030 and whether 2040 targets remain within reach.'
The Sun
20-05-2025
- The Sun
Shocking moment ‘Brit' is attacked on a busy beach by staff ‘after arguing over price of a lounger'
THIS is the shocking moment a tourist is beaten up by a gang of beach workers after reportedly arguing about the price of a sun lounger. The holidaymaker - a Brit, according to local media - was set upon following a spat at Damlatas Beach in Alanya, Turkey 's south coast, on Friday. 5 5 He apparently turned down a sunbed after hearing the price - instead putting his kit straight on the sand so he could go for a dip. Staff demanded he go elsewhere, insisting people must pay for a sunbed to use that patch of beach. When he refused again, they piled in. Dramatic footage shows three members of the team bounding across the sand towards the Brit, fists flying. Nearby sunbathers scramble out of the way and screech in horror at the commotion. One of the group wearing a white vest winds back and lands an almighty thump, clobbering his target to the ground. Blows continue to rain down on the floored man, who rolls over and raises his limbs to shield himself, while the other two watch from the sidelines. After the prime attacker has dealt a few more hefty whacks, one of the trio pulls him back and they all saunter off. The victim is left on his knees, watching after them, before climbing back to his feet. The clip went viral on social media and sparked a furious backlash against the thuggish behaviour. 'You picked on the wrong person!' Watch the moment holidaymaker goes berserk when another woman sits on the sunbed she's 'been using all week' Alanya District's governor Fatih Urkmezer announced that the business in question had been closed. He said: "Judicial and administrative procedures regarding the attack on a tourist that occurred in a beach business in Alanya in recent days, which does not reflect our city and our understanding of tourism, have been initiated immediately. "Approaches that are contrary to the understanding of hospitality of both our city and our country will not be tolerated in Alanya, one of the cities where tourism first began in Turkey." The owner of the business, Serhan Koçaroğlu, waded in to claim that the tourist was "under the influence of alcohol" and had lobbed a sunbed at a Turkish customer. 5 5 He said the tourist turned on him when he tried to intervene. Serhan added that the viral clip showed only the aftermath - and that his teams aggression was only in response to himself being attacked. The business owner also apologised for damaging the reputation of Alanya. He said: "I did not file a complaint in order not to damage the tourism image of Alanya." Contrary to local media reports, the beach worker claimed that the man in the video was Russian, not British, but Turkish officials have not confirmed his nationality.
ABC News
16-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Imported emu colony swam to the mainland now thriving with the locals
In Potato Point on the NSW south coast, a mob of emus imported as pets from Western Australia broke free and now roam the beaches and suburbia.
