Aviation fears outlined over ‘divisive’ plan for new wind farm close to Limerick city

AN COIMISIÚN Pleanála is to consider conflicting evidence heard at an oral hearing into controversial plans to construct a wind farm on the outskirts of Limerick city.

Ballycar Green Energy Ltd has applied for permission to construct 12 wind turbines on a 140-hectare site close to Meelick in County Clare.

The application is being opposed by several local residents and by AirNav Ireland, the Irish Aviation Authority and Shannon Airport, who have each raised concerns related to aviation safety.

In his opening remarks at the oral hearing, Esmonde Keane SC, representing the applicant, said the proposed wind farm is “crucially important” to achieving Ireland’s climate targets.

He argued there must be a sense of “importance and urgency” when dealing with renewable energy projects such as the one proposed.

Mr Keane said his client is of the view there are “viable solutions” to address the concerns raised by AirNav Ireland.

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Richard Ingless, of aviation consultancy firm Cyrrus, outlined a number of mitigation options proposed by Ballycar which, he argued, should reassure AirNav that there would be “minimal or no operational risks” to its radar systems.

Mr Ingless argued that these conditions would reassure AirNav that there would be “minimal or no operational risks” to its radar tracking system. 

An independent review of the proposal, which was commissioned by An Coimisiún Pleanála last year, was carried out by Sagentia Aviation. 

It found Ballycar’s proposed solutions to be “credible” and “reasonable” mitigation options. 

Ballycar proposed that an ‘aviation mitigation scheme’ be agreed between the two parties and submitted to the Commission. 

However, AirNav rejected this proposal. Representing the semi-state body, Suzanne Murray SC said that she did not accept that the issues raised could be addressed by mitigation.

In his submission, Peter Kavanagh, general manager for Shannon Enroute Air Traffic Control, argued that safety must be the priority for the aviation industry.

He said the Woodcock Hill radar is “critical” to Ireland’s air traffic management, as the area is “one of the busiest and most strategic airspaces in the world” with around 400,000 passengers passing through the airspace every day.

Mr Kavanagh argued the proposed wind farm has the potential to interfere with the radar systems, potentially endangering millions of passengers.

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AirNav’s manager of Surveillance Systems, Charlie O’Loughlin, said any reduction in safety levels cannot be accepted, arguing that even with mitigation measures in place, the wind turbines could reflect, deflect or shadow radar beams, reducing accuracy.

Several members of the public also made contributions during the day-long hearing, including Clare TD Cathal Crowe. 
He said the proposed wind farm had become a “divisive force in the community”, something which he described as “deeply regrettable”.

He argued that the wind farm could not be considered on its own, given that there are two similar developments planned for the area. 

Referring to the mitigation measures proposed, Deputy Crowe said that Woodcock Hill could not “become a test lab” for aircraft radar tracking. 

He emphasised that safety (for airlines and passengers) must be prioritised, saying that the notion of prioritising climate action over safety was “quite frankly ridiculous”.

Deputy Crowe concluded by saying that if the commission granted permission for the development, it would be “underwriting Irish air safety”.

Another witness - Paul Hennessy of the Shannon Airport Group -  also expressed fears that the project would impact operations at the airport. 

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In his submission, local pilot Gerry Ryan highlighted the current reliability of the radar tracking system around Shannon. 

He argued that Ballycar Green Energy Ltd could not guarantee that the mitigation proposals would work. 

Mr Ryan added that the level of risk was “unacceptable” and that an aircraft being lost was a “likely outcome”. 

At the conclusion of the hearing, planning inspector Adrian Ormsby said that the proposed wind farm was a “difficult and divisive topic”.

No timeline was given as to when a decision on the application will be made.