Fair Head Tidal submits 100MW tidal scheme plans

Fair Head Tidal has lodged the planning application for permission to install tidal turbines and associated infrastructure on the seabed off County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The Environmental Statement supporting the application contains details on the different types of tidal turbine technologies being considered for the site together survey findings and environmental impact assessments, DP Energy informed.

DP Energy, together with Bluepower, makes up the project company Fair Head Tidal established to drive forward the proposed 100MW tidal scheme.

Fair Head Tidal project is planned to be developed in two stages, according to the project manager, Clodagh McGrath.

“The first stage would be to install an array of perhaps four to six turbines. The second stage would be more substantial, completing the scheme’s 100MW output, which we calculate would supply enough energy to power some 70,000 homes,” McGrath said.

The development area is centered approximately 2 km to the east of Fair Head off the north Antrim coast and around 1 km at its nearest point to land.

The planning application includes a specific section covering the potential socio-economic benefits which could arise if the scheme is built, according to DP Energy, which estimates that some 340 temporary jobs would be created during construction of the full 100MW development, followed by some 75 permanent jobs during the operational phase, lasting up to 25 years.

The application follows a period of consultation including two rounds of public information days.

DP Energy is developing similar schemes off the east coast of Canada, and off Orkney, and Islay, in Scotland.