Controversy Wind power in the Republic of Ireland

1 controversy

1.1 economy
1.2 peat , co2 impacts
1.3 land slides

controversy
economy

in 2011, 120-member irish academy of engineering described wind extremely expensive way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions when compared other alternatives conservation, nuclear energy or corrib gas project , liquified gas tanker imports @ shannon, concluding suggestion of 40% grid penetration wind, unrealistic . contrast, sustainable energy authority of ireland says wind power costs same gas power.

peat , co2 impacts

access roads on top of peatlands results in drainage , eventual oxidation of of peat. turbines represent minor impact, provided entire wind farm area not drained, potentially emitting more co2 turbines save. biochemist mike hall stated in 2009; wind farms (built on peat bogs) may emit more carbon equivalent coal-fired power station if drained.

in 2014 report northern ireland environment agency, has similar peatland, notes siting wind turbines on peatland release considerable carbon dioxide peat, , damage peatland contributions flood control , water quality: potential knock-on effects of using peatland resource wind turbines considerable , arguable impacts on facet of biodiversity have noticeable , greatest financial implications northern ireland.

the irish peatland conservation council maintains database on incidences turbine construction , associated works, such road construction on deep peat, resulted in environmentally degrading bog bursts / peat flows . events accelerate release of carbon dioxide atmosphere. following corrie mountain burst of 2008, ireland fined european court on mishandling of wind farms on peatland.

the body representing industrial peat harvesting in ireland, bord na móna, announced in 2015 biggest change of land use in modern irish history : harvesting energy peat being phased out 2030, due long expected depletion of profitable lowland peat @ point company complete transition becoming sustainable biomass, wind , solar power organization.

land slides

in derrybrien county galway, @ site of become ireland s largest wind farm in 2006, 70 tower derrybrien project, construction disrupted underlying peatland. on 16 october 2003, caused 2003 derrybrien landslide culminated in 2.5 km long, 450,000 m peat slide, polluting nearby lake , killing 50,000 fish. if carbon in slide being released, represents 7–15 months of production wind farm in avoided carbon dioxide fossil power. in 2004, engineering companies convicted of being responsible pollution, while wind farm company acquitted. irish government convicted in 2008 of poor oversight.

the irish peatland conservation council maintains database on incidences turbine construction , associated works, such road construction on deep peat, resulted in environmentally degrading bog bursts / peat flows . events accelerate release of carbon dioxide atmosphere. following corrie mountain burst of 2008, ireland fined european court on mishandling of wind farms on peatland. 2010, @ least 3 wind farm related peat slides had occurred in ireland.