NEWS |
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The Environmental Assessment has now been submitted; the public notices are in the papers and the clock is ticking for objections to be received to this planning application. To see how to object - click here.
The Non Technical Summary of the environmental assessment has been studied and a fair number of points have already been identified as areas where Infinergy have some serous questions to answer. The full assessment is being studied (over 700 pages) and no doubt this will produce some more interesting finds!
However in the NTS (Pages 64 - 69), Infinergy addresses some of the concerns we have made on this web site and we thought we would answer these comments here.
We said that wind farms are an inefficient way to generate electricity in that records from the two existing wind farms in Moray show that they only generate around 25% of their installed capacity.
Infinergy comment (Page 64 - NTS).
Wind Farms are dependent
on wind. It is well recognised that the generating capacity of wind turbines
is dependent on wind strength. Electricity is generated when the wind speeds
are high and stops when wind speeds are low. A wind turbine will never run at
full capacity unless the wind blows all the time. To equate this with ‘efficiency’
is the same as saying that the wind is inefficient. Wind turbines are in fact
the best technology we have at the moment for converting natural energy into
electricity for human consumption, and are more efficient than solar energy
conversion or biofuels. Unlike coal or gas powered
stations, the advantage of this natural resource is that it is non-polluting,
does not produce carbon, and is renewable. We can safely say that we can rely
on the wind blowing in Scotland, and that it is unlikely that it will run out.
If we are talking "mechanical efficiency" purely in terms of the conversion of mechanical energy (the moving turbine) to electrical energy, then yes, wind turbines probably do this pretty well.... PROVIDING the wind is blowing at the optimum speed and blowing continuously.
However if we talk, in layman's terms, about how efficient wind farms are at providing us with cheap, reliable and constant electricity then we stand by our argument that wind farms are a totally inefficient way of generating electricity. Why?
In very simple terms.... As a country we need a certain amount of generating capacity. (power stations). These generators produce electricity and deliver this power to the National Grid where it is distributed about the country. The job of the National Grid is, in very simple terms, to maintain a constant load on the Grid and ensure that there is sufficient electricity to meet the demand. Who you actually buy your electricity off is irrelevant. The electrical demand on the grid (by us the users) varies constantly and the National Grid has a number of mechanisms to ensure a real time balance between demand and generation.
In a letter received from the National Grid, a spokesman for the National Grid stated; "This balancing act involves forecasting the variations in demand and ensuring that we have sufficient generation held in reserve to cover sudden changes in generator output. The intermittent nature (Yes.. even the National grid say that wind power is intermittent!) of the output from wind power is one such variable that we have to cover for. In practice if the wind generation is connected to a distribution network at a lower voltage we see any variation as a change in demand on our network at the higher voltage as opposed to the change in generation output we see for those directly connected to our network at a higher voltage."
Does this mean that because of the imtermittent nature of wind power, when wind electricity is coming "on-line" the man in the Grid control Room is not seeing a rise in generating power, but a reduction in the consumer demand because some extra wind electricity is cancelling out some of the existing demand?
Infinergy also say, "We can safely say that we can rely on the wind blowing in Scotland, and that it is unlikely that it will run out."
Rubbish. Sure the wind blows, but not all the time and not at a constant speed. One good high pressure system parked over the UK there can be little or no wind - simple as that. The strength of the wind varies from hour to hour resulting in rising and falling outputs from wind farms. The wind farm operator has absolutely no control over the output.
There's a saying "No one ever built a windmill if they could build a water mill."
We said that it could be argued that as Moray already has around 12% of Scotland’s existing wind farms, Moray is already “doing its bit”.
Infinergy Comment (Page
64 - NTS)
Moray is an important region of Scotland, which as a nation has committed to
producing 80% of its energy from renewable resources by 2010. The mixed contributions
from cities, industrial and rural regions contribute to the overall strength
and well-being of the country, and no area or region can operate in isolation.
With its high wind speeds, Moray has a higher capacity to contribute to Scotland's
renewable targets than more urbanised and lowland areas. Until Pauls Hill and
Cairn Uish came on line, Moray relied on other areas of Scotland to provide
its energy.
The EU will soon set binding targets for reduction in carbon emissions based
on capacity, not population numbers. England has a higher population than Scotland
yet cannot provide enough wind energy to meet its needs, and therefore is forced
to consider alternative options. With the highest wind speeds in Europe, Scotland
is in an excellent position to become self-sufficient and to even export energy,
again to the benefit of the overall Scottish economy – and perhaps minimise
the number of nuclear power stations south of the border. Economic figures for
Moray indicate that the average person in Moray is less wealthy than the average
Scot.
At an average figure of £2000 per year per MW, the Dorenell Wind Farm will contribute a further £8.85 million over the 25 year lifespan over and above the community benefits provided by Pauls Hill and Carin Uish, directly into the economy and to the communities of Moray.
Yes Moray is an important region of Scotland. It supports a distilling industry with Global exports; It is an important and growing tourist destination; It has some of the most scenic and accessible countryside in Scotland.
"Until Pauls Hill and Cairn Uish came on line, Moray relied on other areas of Scotland to provide its energy" - Infinergy Page 64 NTS) What a classic example of wind farm spin!! This statement implies that now we have two large wind farms and a 3rd (Drummuir) approved Moray no longer has to "import" electricity.
With the highest wind
speeds in Europe, Scotland is in an excellent position to become self-sufficient
and to even export energy, again to the benefit of the overall Scottish economy
– and perhaps minimise the number of nuclear power stations
south of the border. So, now we have to sacrifice
vast tracts of our countryside so that Gordon Brown, does not have to have new
power stations in Englandshire.
The "community fund" of £2000 per MW... Based on the experiences of other community groups one would do well to treat Infinergys claims with caution. They say that they will pay £2000 x 177 MW (installed capacity) which equates to £354,000 per year or £8.85M over the initial life of the wind farm. (newsletter 2)
There are 2 ways of looking at this. (1) Infinergy will pay £354,000 per year irrespective of how much electricity the farm actually generates. If this is the case, they must be making an absolute fortune out of the project .. how much have your electricity bills risen recently??
Or (2) they will pay £2000 per MW of installed capacity based on what is actually produced. If one looks at the figures from other wind farms in the area, then we are talking around 25%. So instead of £354,000 the community fund might only get £88,000 and it's likely that much of any cash will be paid in arrears.
So if you have decided that loosing 21sq km of scenic landscape in Moray is worth £354,000.... remember this saying,
Q. "Madam, would sleep for me for £1m? - "Yes."
Q. "Madam, would you sleep with me for £1?" - "No, what do you take me for!"
A. "We've already established that.... now we are just trying to work out a price."
We said that the Glenfiddich & Cabrach Estate is an ecologically fragile area. Unspoiled peat & heather moorland covering approximately 16 sq km of the Glenfiddich & Cabrach hill. Starting approximately 4 miles South of Dufftown.
Infinergy Comment
The Dorenell Wind Farm is only proposed on the Glenfiddich Estate. Whilst most
of the site is covered in peatland, its condition is not of sufficient quality
to be considered as having a high conservation value. Both specialist geologists
and ecologists undertaking surveys of the site have independently described
the site as being degraded. ‘. …In addition, the peatland appears
severely degraded by grazing, burning and drainage schemes. Natural erosion
of the peatland exists in several places and gives rise to localized disruption
of the ground surface’ (Geology and Peat Slide Risk Assessment –
Chapter 13) ‘Blanket bog, in modified and unmodified forms, covers c.
48 % of the survey area. The establishment and condition of these habitats has
been affected by both natural and human influences shaping the pattern of blanket
bog development and condition across the survey area. The majority of the blanket
bog and wet heath habitat is managed for red deer and red grouse and as such
has been subjected to muirburn and drainage’ (Chapter 11 – Terrestrial
Ecology).
As far as we are aware The Glenfiddich and Cabrach estate are owned and run by the same person and at a local level there is no distinction between the two. However if Infinergy say that the wind farm is only to be built on the Glenfiddich estate, then this is but a technicality which we accept, but does not alter any material facts. If you click here you will see that as far as the Register of Scottish Sasines is concerned the two estates are same!
To someone who has never been here and who is reading this, the description by Infinergy might conjure up images of pretty much a barren waste land only really suitable for wind farms. However, we beg to differ. To a holiday maker seeking to getaway from their overcrowded city for a day or a week, it is a place unspoilt by human industrialisation and a place of grandeur, openness and peace. A place where you can see red deer, a host of bird life including, if you're patient, golden eagles. True, the land has been managed over the generations but with almost half the area (according to Infinergys figures) being peat blanket bog, there is no doubt that peat land is an ecologically fragile area which will be damaged by such a large scale construction project.
We said that there were scientific reasons to believe that the peat will be destroyed for a large area around each turbine, greatly increasing the devastation.
Infinergy Comment
The reason provided for stating that the peat will be destroyed for a large
area around each turbine is the Derrybrien peat slide. This is not a scientific
reason. Derrybrien was a catastrophic event caused by a combination of weather
conditions, environmental factors and site specific conditions, particularly
related to the natural drainage conditions and poor construction practices.
These conditions are not present at Dorenell. The Scottish Government now require
a peat slide risk assessment at all wind farm sites located over blanket bog.
The peat slide risk assessment at Dorenell has identified that the site has
a low risk of peat slide, and the site layout has been designed to specifically
avoid any areas where there is even the possibility of instability
No we are not saying that Derrybrien is a scientific reason. In fact it's nothing to do with a catastrophic peat slide, although this is a graphic example of what happens when the big money overrides local objections.
The scientific reason is "mechanical vibrations". Any machine that moves causes a vibration. (Turbines rotate, gears grind, mechanisms move!). Such vibrations have wide ranging frequency and power levels and are impossible to predict in advance. There are academic studies have shown that in peat eco-systems, this vibration actually kills the microscopic life in, and on, the peat causing it to lose its structure, collapse and rot. This dead rotted material is then washed into the water ways where it has a devastating impact on fish and aquatic life.
Now we are not scientists, but until this theory has been conclusively disproved (and that could be many years down the line) we should NOT allow wind farm developers, who say they may be gone in 25 years, take such a risk? It would appear that no-one is prepared to put up an indemnity against the possibility that this could happen. What will happen in 15 years time if this prediction comes to pass? Who will pay? One guess.... you and me.. the taxpayer!
We said that a network of roads will have to be laid - not just simple tracks, but roads capable of carrying lorries that weigh 105 tonnes. If a smallish site like Paul’s Hill had to have 13km of roads, what distance will be required here? 30 - 40 km of new roads permanently scarring the landscape?
Infinergy Comment
(Page 65 - NTS)
The Dorenell site will have 7.5km of existing tracks and 34.6km of new tracks.
These have been designed to minimise impacts on landscape, particularly from
sensitive viewpoints. These roads will be turfed over on completion of construction
and will be difficult to see. There will not be permanent scarring of the landscape.
The use of the word "tracks" is a complete misnomer and, in our opinion, is extremely misleading to someone reading the NTS. These will not some rough track for a keepers Landrover. Make no mistake there will be (42.1 km) 26.3 miles of unmettaled roads (ie: no tarmac cap) capable of taking the heaviest trucks and cranes needed during the construction phase.
These roads will be wide; They will have sufficient foundations to take the weight of the cranes and trucks. They will have drainage ditches. Where the road crosses peat, the peat will be excavated as deep as necessary to provide a firm foundation. Where will the road building material come from? A quarry of course. Infinergy, like all wind farm developers, call these "Borrow pits"; it sounds nicer... like you're going to put it all back after you have "borrowed" it. But of course, the stone cannot be "put back".
As for turfing over the roads after construction??? We don't believe this. Some of the areas around the turbines may be covered, but access will still be required to the wind farm for maintenace or perhaps even for further expansion.
If you don't believe us take a drive up to Pauls Hill or Cairn Uish and see if you think they are "roads" or "tracks"
Even if, in 25 years after the farm has been de-commissioned, they seed the roads and try to encourage vegetation back, it wont work. It's still possible to see evidence of Roman Roads some 2000 years later. No... we know that just over 26 MILES of large, heavy duty roads will be visible for many, many years to come.
We said, To say that this wind farm will
help reduce CO2, ignores the fact that large amounts of CO2 will be released
as the peat is destroyed.
• The peat will be dead and probably washed away.
• 70,000 tonnes of concrete simply cannot be removed.
• The roads cannot simply be filled in.
Infinergy Comment (P66-67
- NTS)
The tracks have been designed to avoid areas of deep peat and to minimise the
amount of peat removed. Most of the cut peat will be used for re-turfing road
batters and replaced on the hard standing and turbine bases, which will prevent
drying out and exposure to oxygen which causes CO2 to be released. The peat
will not be dead. Excess peat is proposed to be stored in a disused quarry which
is an enclosed hole in the bedrock (i.e. it is not open on any side) and therefore
peat will not wash away. There will be 27,000 m3 of concrete poured for 59 bases
over 21 km2. On decommissioning, these will remain on the site but be below
ground level, mostly embedded in the bedrock and turfed over. The concrete is
generally environmentally benign – with minute leaching of basic material
over a long period of time, and will not result in any significant environmental
effects. It will cause more environmental damage to remove the turbine bases.
As discussed above, the roads will be re-turfed following construction and fully
reinstated once the wind farm is decommissioned.
In April 2008 a seminar was held in Brussels at the European Parliament asking the question whether building wind farms on peat was counter productive. Download a short summary of the seminar to see what the scientists think. You will see that there are some doubts over the claims by Infinergy that the peat will not be destroyed.
We said, "The River Spey is one of the most famous and one of the largest rivers in Scotland, having a total catchment of 3008km2. Indeed the catchment of the Spey is considered to be almost ‘pristine’. Both of these rivers are fed from water flowing from the proposed site of the Dorenell wind farm.
Infinergy Comment
The value and sensitivity of these rivers is recognised in the design and layout
of the wind farm, and buffer distances at least 10 x recognised SEPA Guidance
have been put in place.
We said, " The River Deveron is one of the top five British Salmon Rivers. The river forms a thread, linking the market towns of Keith and its famed distilleries.
Infinergy Comment
There is no hydrological connection from the site to the water sources of any
of the distilleries in the area.
We said, " If the scientists theories are correct then the potential for pollution exists on a massive scale if the Dorenell wind farm gets the go ahead. There is evidence to suggest that the destruction of the peat will result in the decaying and rotting material being washed downhill where it will poison the water it comes into contact with.
Infinergy Comment
As above, there is no scientifically based ‘theory’ about the cause
of the peatslide at Derrybrien, which is the reference for this comment. The
contributing factors to this unusual event have been well investigated, are
now well understood and have acted to change construction practices over areas
of blanket bog in general. A peat slide risk assessment, which was independently
audited by Macaulay Institute, has shown that the risk of peatslide at Dorenell
is low. The arguments put forward by Professor D. Dean regarding concerns that
damage to the ecology could be triggered by the vibrations of operational turbines,
are not scientifically based and have been discredited.
SOS Moray response
We are pleased that Infinergy at least recognise that the River Spey is vital to Moray and for the Atlantic Salmon. However they must feel that there is some pollution risk if they are making their buffer zones 10 x the recommended distance. But WHY are we even allowing such a risk to be taken with the Spey for what is nothing more than short term commercial gain?
Infinergy say that the risk of peat slide is low.. so there's still a risk then?
Infinergy say that the arguments put forward by Prof Dean regards vibrations have been discredited... This is news to Prof. Dean who is now currently seeking answers from Infinergy as to the basis of this statement!
We said, " Building an industrial scale wind farm on this site will impose serious pressure, disruption and probable risk to the wildlife that depends on wide open wilderness areas for its survival, particularly to Golden Eagle, Red deer, Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Golden Plover, Short –eared Owl and Mountain Hare."
Infinergy Comment
The scientific studies and impact assessment for the Dorenell Wind Farm indicate
that the following impacts have the potential to occur.
Well at least Infinergy admit that over the 25 years there are going to be a few of our rarest raptors (the Golden Eagle) chopped by the turbines as they traverse the hills for prey, like the mountain hare.
It's unlikely that red deer will frequent the immediate vicinity of the turbines, especially during the construction phase when the human activity on the moor (Blasting; machinery etc) will probably disturb their annual rut. It's not like a small scale building site ... this is 21 sq km or over 5000 acres. That's a big area of land!
True the red grouse will not mind, a brace were recently spotted on the Pauls Hills site. But Red Grouse need heather to feed on and they will move away during the construction period. It's simply more pressure on the habitat of "The Famous Grouse".
Black Grouse. A rare and endangered species. One might have thought that the people Infinergy employed would have been more thorough. We know of a black grouse lek much closer to the site than the Black water lodge site, if they missed this one how much does it say for their thoroughness?
Golden Plover. Again on the Red List for endangered birds. But Infinergy has a plan to "mitigate" any damage to their habitat.. Have the Golden Plover read this plan?
Some people will argue that progress demands some sacrifice, but we say that sacrificing such a huge area of landscape that is designated an Area of Great Landscape Value, is criminal given that the energy produced is intermittent, uncontrollable and is likely to be there for just 25 years.
It seems to us we are prostituting our landscape and wildlife habitat for short term commercial gains to install a system that cannot generate electricity on demand and will have little bearing on global climate change.
We said, " In 2000 Tourism contributed more money to the Scottish Economy than either agriculture, forestry or fishing. To allow a wind farm, with giant turbines, to be situated in one of the most scenic areas of Moray, is surely totally contradictory to the aim of attracting visitors to Scotland?
Infinergy Comment
Tourism contributes over 9% of the income to the Moray Region and continues
to grow, and is strongly linked to the Whiskey industry and visits to distilleries.
Visitors at attractions in the area around the Dorenell site were interviewed
to assess the effect of the Dorenell Wind Farm on tourism. The assessment concludes
that if constructed the Dorenell Wind Farm has the potential to marginally reduce
the “visitor experience” while in Moray. However, while visitors
may enjoy their time in Moray slightly less due to the presence of wind farms,
was very unlikely to create a change in behaviour. The willingness of tourists
to revisit the area is expected to be largely unaffected by the construction
of the Dorenell Wind Farm. Any reduction in the quality of the scenery is not
estimated to be sufficient to change tourist behaviour and therefore feed through
into related, marketed services. This is supported by a study on the impact
of wind farms on tourism which have just been competed by the Scottish Executive
‘The Economic Impacts of Wind Farms on Tourism (2008)’. In this
study, Visit Scotland and the Scottish Executive have concluded that Scotland
could meet its commitment to generate at least 50% of its electricity from renewable
sources such as wind by 2020 with minimal impact on the tourism industry. Their
research showed little evidence of negative economic impacts from wind farms
on tourism. The vast majority of tourists they surveyed that had seen a wind
farm indicated this would not effect their decision to return to the area of
the wind farm, or to Scotland as a whole.
SOS Moray response.
Infinergy conducted a visitor survey over 1 bank holiday weekend in August 2007. They say that a total of 118 tourists and visitors were surveyed (Ch21 - P6 - 21.23). Odd.. on the previous page Table 21.2 shows only 113 surveyed. Either way 100 or so visitors is a tiny sample. Even more worrying than the small sample is that up to 1/3rd of the visitors surveyed were in areas that, on Infinergys table of visability from key tourist attractions (Table 21.4), have NO visibility or appear to be outwith the visible range of the proposed wind farm.
This is, in our opinion, not what we would call a comprehensive investigation into the views of visitors to the area, who appreciate what the area can offer.
Since February 2008, SOS Moray has been conducting a visitor survey, which will continue throughout 2008. This survey aims to find out the views of visitors, specifically regards Dorenell, who are STAYING in the area and not just a few random people quizzed in a distillery car park one Bank Holiday weekend.
Our early results from the 1st 100 guests show that 13% of visitors would not return to the area with another 26% not sure. As to whether the wind farm would increase the areas "Green" appeal, 61% said that it would REDUCE the appeal of the region. These early results paint a very different picture to that put forward by Infinergy and the pathetically small survey carried out on behalf of the Scottish Executive.
In Volume 2 (Ch 21, P8, 21.38) of the Environmental statement, Infinergy recognise that Moray is an important visitor destination. "Tourism in the area immediately surrounding the Dorenell site, the site itself and the wider surrounding areas with important tourism and recreational activities, is clearly significant with well over 1 million visits made to the area each year. Many of these visits are made by International visitors attracted by both the scenic beauty or the area and its culture but also by the development and availability of many high quality visitor attractions perhaps best represented by the Whisky trail and the castle trail."
True visitors from all over the world come to Moray for the Whisky and, whether or not they are specifically attracted by the scenic beauty, they will, no doubt, have some preconceived ideas of the landscape as being as lovely as the pictures they saw on the Visit Scotland web site. They might be somewhat disappointed to see the beautiful scenery they expected to find spoiled by 400 ft turbines.
Whisky and castles might be important but the scenery and backdrop is just as vital if we are to continue to attract visitors year round. How many wind turbines can you spot in Visit Scotlands website?
It's estimated that the tourism industry in Aberdeen and Grampian supported, in 2007, over 25,000 full time jobs. Infinergy hope to create 2 full time posts at Dorenell.
You decide which is more important to the local economy.
We showed this picture 
Infinergy Comment
The site is 21 km2 and will contain 59 turbines. Wind turbines of 126 m in height
require a separation width of at least 3-4 times their height (360 m –
480m). This image which was presented on the web site is an impossible photomontage.
SOS Moray response
Of course it's an impossible montage...it was designed to shock people into understanding that by industrialising our scenic landscape we will be left with a desert.
However what is much more worrying is that Infinergy did not pick out the picture above that we had made as a representation of the possible future.. Could it be that what we are saying here will come to pass?
While we are talking of "odd" pictures.... On page 25 of the NTS there is a picture of a chap taking a pic of a lovely deer. We guess Infinergy are trying to show their sensitivity towards wildlife disturbance.... Hmm.... If you look closely at the picture, it does appear to look more like some form of young Elk, than any breed we know of in the UK. Perhaps the picture was taken in Norway??
We said, "According to Infinergy (Developers), the planned route for trucking in the turbine parts will be via the A920 from Huntley, then turning left onto the A941 towards Cabrach. The sheer numbers of heavy construction traffic that will need to use this road will make it a nightmare."
Infinergy Comment
The proposed access route for turbine delivery will not be the same route for
construction traffic, which will be temporary.
SOS Moray Response
We see from Vol 2 of the Environmental statement that Turbine delivery will come along the Huntly road (A920) and then onto the A941 towards Cabrach. That's 1298 vehicle movements just for Turbine Componet delivery.
As for the other traffic. Well this will come in from all directions.
Over the course of the construction period there are projected to be 27,442 vehicle movements and Infinergy admit that HGV traffic on the A941 will increase by 123% averaging 30 HGV's per day over the main construction phase.
Even with new passing places the increase of traffic on this small rural road will prove to be a nightmare for local folk.
We said, " To say that this wind farm will help reduce CO2, ignores the fact that large amounts of CO2 will be released as the peat is destroyed."
Infinergy Comment
Due to the design of the wind farm, the internal access tracks and turbines
are located on shallow peat. The loss of carbon from peat has been calculated
as taking 4 months of turbine operation for the wind farm to replace. If this
is added to emissions from the manufacture of turbines through to the operation
of the wind farm (7 months), it is estimated that the total emissions for the
life time of the development will be ‘paid back’ within 11 months
of construction, resulting in an overall positive influence on the carbon balance.
CO2 emission savings, which if totally displacing fossil fuel generated power,
could alone amount to over 11.6 million tonnes over the 25 year life cycle of
the wind farm (for coal fired) or 3.7 million tonnes (for
average grid mix) based on approximately 24 years after estimated carbon loss
from peat and turbine manufacturing has been deducted.
SOS Moray response.
Wind farm spin... you can say anything with statistics. The simple fact is that it takes 1000 years to lay down a layer of peat 30cm deep. Peat actively stores CO2 so once it's removed it can no longer "fix" CO2.
As for CO2 savings by displacing fossil fuel power..... No conventional power station will be turned off; they will always be running in the back ground to provide the constant load that the National Grid needs to maintain. Remember, when wind farms are delivering electricity to the grid, this is seen as a reduction in demand... Not an increase in generating output.
Wind Farm developers will always try to present their case so that the negatives do not appear so bad.
The simple fact that you have to decide on is this.
Can wind farms provide an alternative to a conventional power station? The answer is NO.
In addition, the cumulative impact on the Scottish landscape of 1000's of Turbines will be disporportionaly damaging to the tourist industry and wildlife.
If you care about Scotland, please help us Stop this development.