The following question and answer section responds to many of the queries that were raised in the comment forms filled out at our public exhibitions in 2004.

What will Gwynt y Môr look like?
The photomontages (click on link to the left hand side of this page) show an optically accurate picture of the project from a number of viewpoints in a number of different lighting conditions. The pie-chart below gives an indication of how often the weather conditions will mean the project is visible from the shore. Combining these two sources of information gives a good indication of the final appearance of the project. (The photomontages show the largest possible turbines at Gwynt y Môr (150 x 5MW wind turbines) and the Rhyl Flats Offshore Wind Farm layout that will actually be constructed (25 x 3.6MW wind turbines).

This chart shows roughly the amount of time the Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm will be visible from the shore.

The chart is based on data collected over 10 years at the Met Office weather station at Rhyl. The visibility of the wind farm at any time will depend on many factors, such as the clarity of the air, the lighting conditions, height of viewpoint and distance of viewpoint from the wind farm.

Will I be able to hear the wind farm?
Gwynt y Môr will be a very long way from the coast, so generally it will not be audible. It is possible that in certain very unusual conditions the wind farm might be heard onshore, but the sound would be at a low volume (no more than a whisper) and should resemble 'white noise' (similar to the sound of waves on a beach).

Will Gwynt y Môr affect local jobs?
The Gwynt y Môr project could support many new jobs, including around 120 operating and maintaining the wind farm throughout its operational life. The vast majority of these long-term jobs would be in the local area.

An engineer carries out a maintenance inspection on top of
one of the wind turbines at North Hoyle.

Will Gwynt y Môr affect shipping?
A comprehensive navigational risk assessment has been carried out, including computer simulations and extensive consultation with local mariners. A new proposal for a traffic separation scheme adjacent to Gwynt y Môr is being taken forward by the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to the UK and International authorities. The new scheme was designed with input from some of the key navigation organisations operating in Liverpool, to route ships into and out of the Port of Liverpool.

The Traffic Separation Scheme for Liverpool Bay

What effect will the wind farm have on wildlife?
The SEI confirms that effects on birds will be of negligible to low significance. Effects on fish spawning arising from underwater noise during construction remain possible and npower renewables will be agreeing appropriate methods for minimising impacts with the Government's scientific advisors. The additional studies on mitigating noise effects during construction on marine mammals have confirmed that proposals set out in the original assessment are in line with the developing industry best-practice.

A shoal of juvenile whiting feed on small shrimps living among the barnacles on the North Hoyle wind turbine foundations.

A seal plays with the mooring rope of a vessel tied up to one of the North Hoyle wind turbines.

How have local opinions affected the project?
Consultations with a variety of stakeholders including the general public, central and local government, environmental groups, fishermen and navigational interests have affected most aspects of the project development. For instance, the size and position of the wind farm is constrained by visual interests, the northern limit of the turbine array has been changed because of feedback on navigational safety and the onshore power export cabling, to the substation, will be buried to eliminate the visual impact of pylons.

npower renewables staff consult with local residents at the
Gwynt y Môr public exhibitions in 2004.

Will Gwynt y Môr affect tourism?
In the summer of 2004, an independent survey of tourists' opinions was carried out at 8 locations along the North Wales and Wirral coastlines. The survey sought to determine the response of visitors to the existing North Hoyle Offshore Wind Farm and their views on the proposed Gwynt y Môr project. 96% of tourists expressing an opinion on the effect of North Hoyle on visitor numbers to the area said there was "no effect", and only 4% of tourists surveyed felt that the presence of Gwynt y Môr would make them less likely to return to the area¹.

Public attitude surveys undertaken by independent market research companies continually show high levels of support for wind energy in the UK. The Wind Tracker, conducted by NOP World, is a regular survey of public attitudes towards wind energy and the most recent results, from a survey in July 2006, show 76% of those surveyed agreed "that wind farms are necessary so that we can produce renewable energy to help us meet current and future energy needs in the UK².

How long will Gwynt y Môr be operational?
If consent is granted, the site will be leased for 50 years. Over the life of the project some of the components may be replaced, but once the site reaches the end of its life, the structures will be 'decommissioned' - as a minimum this is likely to involve removal of all structures above the seabed.

Are wind farms worthwhile?
Yes! There is no question that wind farms are effective electricity generators. Wind turbines have been used for decades, and wind power is understood and supported by governments, electricity organisations and environmental groups around the world. The myths that say wind turbines don't produce useful electricity (because they are "intermittent"), and that they devastate wildlife, are simply not true.

Gwynt y Môr would produce electricity 70 to 85% of the time - generating enough power every year to meet 2% of the UK's total domestic electricity consumption³. The wind farm would pay back the energy used in its manufacture in less than a year of operation and, over the rest of its life, save thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every day.

Notes

1. The survey was undertaken by RBA Research which is a member of the British Market Research Association (BMRA), and abides by its Quality Charter. In addition the conduct of individual researchers is required to be compliant with the Professional Code of Conduct of the Market Research Society (MRS).



2. More information about The Wind Tracker can be found at http://www.bwea.com/ref/windtracker.html. Details of other surveys looking into public attitudes towards wind energy can be found at http://www.bwea.com/ref/surveys.html



3. 500,000 homes divided by National Census (2001) figure for total number of households in the UK of 24,480,000 = 2%.