愛爾蘭通過一項新開發案，將在其東岸設置200座風力發電機，為世界最大的近海風力發電計畫。

　　週五在都柏林舉行的「前灘租賃簽約典禮」上，愛爾蘭海洋及自然資源部長法蘭克•佛赫正式宣告這項風力發電計畫開始動工運作。這項計畫設置於愛爾蘭海域一處名為阿克羅淺灘（Arklow Bank）之地，預計供應520百萬瓦特電力。

　　全世界目前僅有20處著手開發近海風力發電，而且全都集中在北歐。待阿克羅淺灘計畫完工後，所供應的電量將是其他建造中的近海風力發電場電量總合的3倍。

　　佛赫表示：「今天這個日子為我們揭開乾淨、綠色能源新時代的序幕，這得歸功於2項豐富的再生資源──海洋和風力。我特別感到高興的是，這項有史以來最具雄心的近海風力發電開發計畫，能夠由愛爾蘭公司來接手，該公司積極而充滿朝氣，並且在再生能源工程領域中擁有傲人的成績。」

　　這項風力發電計畫在提案之初即進行充分的公眾諮詢，因此並未遭遇到社會大眾的反對。

　　來自北歐最強勁的風力吹拂愛爾蘭北部和西南部海岸，就風力發電而言，愛爾蘭的條件非常理想而適宜。

　　佛赫表示這項計畫將領先群倫。他希望此案「有助於愛爾蘭在這新興能源工業中，成為世界的領導者，並使阿克羅淺灘作為典範發展模式，吸引世界各地的人們前來參訪。」

　　風力發電場設置的位置離海岸線最近距離僅有7公里（4.3英哩），在清亮明朗的天氣下，威克羅岬至柯頓港一帶，包括從不列塔斯和柯頓等知名的海灘上，就能清楚的望見。

　　部長還表示，從國際性層面來看，這麼大規模的開發，將帶動頻繁的商業活動，吸引貿易及公眾代表前來實地參訪，這對當地觀光產業有良性的影響。由於需要船隻載運參訪人士，有可能因此而帶動海洋觀光業，屆時，風力發電場並不會對一般民眾開放。

　　佛赫期待這項開發案能為愛爾蘭帶來可觀的收益，在5年完工期內，每年增加190萬歐元（170萬美元）的稅收。

　　「前灘租賃」契約中有項條件：在部長核准之下，得以擴充風力發電場最大發電量、更動發電機數量。

　　阿克羅淺灘與陸地最近距離為7公里（4.3英哩），位於愛爾蘭海阿克羅東方，佔地南北長27公里（17英哩）、寬1.5英哩，水深為5至25公尺（16至81英呎），可說是理想的發電場設置地點。

　　與這種無污染的發電方式相比較，燃煤電廠若要生產相同的電量，每年將排放110萬公噸造成溫室效應的二氧化碳。

　　開發風力發電，將有助於愛爾蘭達到京都議定書所訂定的溫室效應氣體排放的減量目標，以及聯合國於2001年透過政治協商達成的氣候變遷綱要公約，依據該項條約，愛爾蘭必須在2008至2012年間降低二氧化碳排放量達8%。

　　運轉後的第一階段目標，預計將減少石化燃料進口值達3.3億歐元，估計因避免污染而節省的社會成本約2,500萬歐元（2,230萬美元）。

　　本次風力發電場工程由Future Wind Partnership以及National Toll Roads合資的公司Eirtricity負責建造，Future Wind Partnership早在3年前即已著手規劃愛爾蘭風能資源的開發藍圖。

　　Eirtricity執行長暨歐洲風能協會副總裁艾迪•歐康諾表示，「這項重大的近海風力發電場開發案，會是內燃引擎發明以來最大的能源革命。」

　　歐康諾博士在前灘租賃簽約典禮演說中提到，「我們有現成的資源、可靠的技術、以及持續的投資，但最後還需要政府當局的政策支持才行。」

　　歐康諾博士繼續說道：「值得慶賀的是，我們的海洋及自然資源部在前灘政策上比其他歐洲鄰國更為先進。」「然而，政府下一步的關鍵在創造一個有利於近海風能開發的投資環境，例如在電力系統併聯的支出以及投資補助方面，若沒有政府的支持，愛爾蘭目前在近海風力發電建立的領先地位，很可能被其他國家迎頭趕上，像英國即已釋出大量融資補助近海風力發電事業。」

　　Eirtricity公司預計春季開始動工，並冀望在今年秋季即可達到60百萬瓦特的發電量。

　　整個發電場完工後可提供520百萬瓦特的電量，足以供應400所工業電力用戶與50萬戶家庭使用。

　　按照目前的估算，整個計畫的開銷將超出6.3億歐元（5.63億美元）。

　　第一階段建造工程所提供的工作機會相當於360個全職工，另外從2002年起算，尚有23個永久職位。

　　佛赫提到：海洋活力的發展前景可期，意謂著「此地船釣業具有實質成長的可能性，至於愛爾蘭海受保護的珍貴產卵棲地，其增加的潛力就更不用提了。」

　　歐康諾博士表示，歐盟法令──再生能源指令所設定的目標，需要全歐洲發展近海風力發電才得以完成。陸上資源則缺乏適合的地點，要不就是造價過於昂貴。

　　他預測到2020年，光是近海風力發電就足以滿足全歐洲2/3電力需求量。(2002.1.14 ENS)

全文與圖片詳見：http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01
-14-01.html

版權歸屬Environment News Service(ENS)，環境資訊協會(莫聞 譯，蔡麗伶 審校)

全文詳見：http://e-info.org.tw/issue/energy
/2002/en02031901.htm

DUBLIN, Ireland, January 14, 2002 (ENS) - Two hundred wind turbines have been approved for Ireland's east coast in a new development that will be the largest offshore wind power project in the world.

At a Foreshore Lease signing ceremony in Dublin on Friday, Irish Marine & Natural Resources Minister, Frank Fahey, gave the go-ahead for the construction and operation of the 520 megawatt wind farm in an area of the Irish Sea known as the Arklow Bank.

There are currently only 20 offshore developments worldwide, all in northern Europe. When completed, the Arklow Banks project will have three times the combined capacity of all offshore wind farms currently in production in the world.

Fahey said, "Today heralds the dawning of a new age of clean green energy, harvested from two plentiful renewable resources, the sea and the wind. I am particularly pleased that this project, the most ambitious offshore wind energy development ever undertaken, is being undertaken by a dynamic Irish company who have already established a track record in renewable energy projects."

The wind farm application, which had been subject to full public consultation, had received no objections from members of the public.

Ireland is ideally suited to generating wind power as some of the strongest winds in Northern Europe blow from the north and southwest coast.

Fahey says this project will be the first of many. He hopes it "will help to establish Ireland as a world leader in this young industry and that the Arklow Banks will become a model development attracting visitors from around the world."

During clear bright weather, the development, situated some seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the nearest onshore point, will be highly visible from Wicklow Head to Courtown Harbour and including such popular beaches as Brittas and Courtown.

On the international side, there is a strong possibility that a development of this size will bring large numbers of trade and public representatives on fact finding visits with a positive effect for tourism, the minister said. There may also be an increase in marine tourism with boat trips bringing people out to the wind farm, which will not be open to the public.

Fahey expects considerable revenue for Ireland from this development - upwards of euro 1.9 million ($1.7 million) each year within five years of completion.

There is a provision in the Foreshore Lease to increase the maximum output of the wind farm and vary the number of turbines subject to the minister's consent.

The Arklow Banks are seven kilometers (4.3 miles) from the nearest landfall. Situated east of Arklow in the Irish Sea and running in a north-south direction for 27 kilometers (17 miles) and are up to a mile and a half wide in places. Water depths from five to 25 meters (16 to 81 feet) make them an ideal location for generating electricity.

The pollution free energy produced will be equal to an annual reduction of some 1.1 million metric tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide that would have been emitted from a coal fired generating station producing the same amount of electricity.

The development will contribute the ability of Ireland to meet its greehouse gas reduction target under Kyoto Protocol, an addition to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change that was approved politically during negotiations in 2001. Ireland must reduce its emission of carbon dioxide by eight percent during the period 2008 to 2012.

Phase 1 of the project, when operational, will replace some euro 330 million of imported fossil fuels. The social benefit of avoided pollution is estimated at euro 25 million ($22.3 million).

The wind farm is to be built by eirtricity, a joint venture between Future Wind Partnership and the National Toll Roads. Future Wind Partnership was set up three years ago with its aim being to develop Ireland's wind energy resources.

"The development of major offshore wind energy parks will be the biggest energy revolution since the internal combustion engine," according to Eddie O'Connor, managing director of eirtricity and vice president of the European Wind Energy Association.

Speaking at the signing of the foreshore lease, Dr. O'Connor said, "The resource is there, the technology is proven, the costs continue to drop - all that is needed is the political will to see it happen."

"The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources are to be congratulated on a foreshore policy that is more advanced than our European neighbors," said Dr. O'Connor, "however, the key next step is for the government to create a business environment that encourages investment in offshore wind energy. Without support in areas such as grid connection costs and capital relief, Ireland risks losing the lead it has now established in offshore wind energy to countries such as the UK, where massive subsidies are targeted at offshore wind energy."

Eirtricity hopes to commence construction in the spring and begin power generation of 60 megawatts in autumn of this year.

The entire 520 megawatt wind development will have the capacity to meet the needs of more than 400 industrial electricity users or 500,000 homes.

The cost of the project will, at current prices, be in excess of euro 630 million ($563 million).

Construction of phase one will result in 360 full time equivalent jobs and 23 permanent jobs from 2002.

Fahey said an anticipated increase in marine life means, "There is a real possibility of an increase in boat angling in the area, not to mention the potential creation of a valuable new protected spawning ground for the Irish Sea." 

The achievement of the targets set down in the European Union's law known as the Renewable Energy Directive will require offshore wind development all over Europe. The onshore resource is simply not there or is too expensive, Dr. O'Connor said.

He predicts that offshore wind energy alone could provide up to two thirds of Europe's electricity needs by 2020.

http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2002/2002L-01
-14-01.html