Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saundershas welcomed the news that three new test and demonstration floating wind projects in the Celtic Sea are to progress to next stage of development.
The three projects have satisfied the initial application criteria set out by The Crown Estate, demonstrating technical competence, delivery capability and technological innovation.
They each test new foundation and mooring technologies, using new designs, materials, and construction approaches. All three proposals will now be subject to plan-level Habitats Regulations Assessment to assess the possible impact on protected marine habitats.
Mrs. Finch-Saunders has supported research into the possibility of introducing floating wind farms, which often find space further away from the coastline. However, the Member for Aberconwy has cautioned of the need for greater spatial planning considerations in all marine development, to assist with conservation and address the negative impacts with regards to the visuals.
Commenting on the announcement, she said: “This development news from the Crown Estate is a fantastic step forward to realising the energy producing potential of these floating engineering marvels. Finding space approximately 45 km away from the coastline, they not only realise the issue of coastline saturation but could also help generate thousands of long-term green-collar jobs.
“Given the concerns about the oversaturation of our waters through the usual static wind projects, as well as their potential impact on the sea bed and fish stocks, I have long been calling on the Welsh Government to review its policies with regards to marine spatial planning, placing an emphasis on collecting the necessary data to confirm their impact on the environment.
“These are central to my concerns about Awel y Môr, in my own constituency of Aberconwy, with those turbines potentially being as tall as the Eiffel Tower and possibly having an impact on the local seabird population. As the technology evolves, we should look to embrace these new developments to ensure that the impact on our marine habitats and tourism hotspots are minimised.”