From The Daily Sceptic

By Richard Eldred
 

The SNP has signed off on the world’s largest offshore wind farm in what conservationists are calling “a very dark day for seabirds”. The Mail has the story.

Ministers confirmed that the giant Berwick Bank project off the south east coast of Scotland – which will contain up to 307 turbines – has been given the go-ahead.

Developers SSE Renewables, claim that, if it is fully delivered, then it “would become the world’s largest offshore wind farm”.

Conservation groups raised concerns about the danger that the development will kill tens of thousands of puffins, kittiewakes and gannets, including globally important colonies at Bass Rock.

It comes just days after Donald Trump attacked the spread of “windmills” during his visit to Scotland, saying they were “ruining” countries in Europe. …

The development will feature up to 307 turbines and have two connection points to the grid – one in Dunbar, East Lothian and another in Blyth, Northumberland.

But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and partner conservation groups condemned the decision to approve the development.

Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: “This is a very dark day for seabirds. It is a terrible decision on a really bad development.

“Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland’s globally important seabirds which are already facing alarming declines. In addition, its impacts are so damaging they will make the relative impacts of other wind farms significantly higher.

“This one wind farm is going to make it really challenging to accelerate renewable projects across Scottish seas. We are incredibly concerned that Scottish Government have granted consent for a project which could catapult some of Scotland’s most-loved seabird species towards extinction.”

The National Trust for Scotland said the news was “deeply disappointing”, fearing there will be “significant harm” caused to seabird colonies at the nearby St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve. …

The approval comes after the SNP Government unveiled a new target of having up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is a significant ramping up from the existing target of 8-11GW by 2030.

Based on current average operating capacities it would mean an increase from around 1,000 turbines in five years’ time to 5,000 within 15 years.

Worth reading in full.