English Cymraeg

Holy Island (Anglesey) under attack from new tidal stream floating turbine plans that will impact the coastal species and habitats and industrialise the rugged seascapes and landscapes.

The information on this web site is supplied by the concerned public (South Stack Heritage Group - SSHG) who care deeply about this iconic geographical location, its protected pre-Cambrian geology, its delicate marine species/habitats and beautiful rugged seascapes and landscapes. If you too feel strongly about this industrialisation of the coast of Holy Island and potentially other areas of Anglesey, please show your support by signing our petition and following our Facebook and Twitter page.

THE “MORLAIS” TIDAL STREAM ENERGY PROJECT PROPOSAL

Menter Môn under the guise of “The Morlais Project” have submitted:

A Marine License Application ORML1938 (offshore development) for the installation and commercialisation of up to 620 tidal energy devices starting 500 meters off the west coast of Holy Island (Anglesey):

  • 120 of the devices can be floating on the surface in networked arrays with giant sub-surface water turbines beaneth. Morlais have confirmed that up to 15 of these floating devices could be 75m in length and 3.5m tall (that length is almost 3 times the height of South Stack Lighthouse!) coloured with 5m wide highly visible bright yellow bands which are required for marine safety.
  • the devices will be tethered to the seabed with huge metal cables/chains secured to concrete plinths.

A Transport Work Order Application TWA/3234121 (a compulsory purchase order for onshore inf development) to route 240MW of electricity from South Stack to Holyhead (Orthios Site):

  • via a brand new electrical sub-station built in fields at South Stack and under the current road system from South Stack via Poth Dafarch to the Orthios Eco Park (old Anglesey aluminium plant)
  • bringing 2 years of heavy vehicles onto the roads and creating significant contra-flow traffic delays as the roads are dug up to accommodate the cabling. (Morlais have stated that the congestion will be managed by the IoACC Highways Department and will take account of the tourism season!)

Click the link below for the full overview:

View PDF
Read more

THE INSTALLATION

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
  • Whether the technology actually works when it is located out in the sea. If it does work:
  • where will the next tidal stream energy project be located on the Anglesey and what level of destruction/disruption will that bring?
  • whether we can look forward to another round of onshore and offshore industrialisation as the planned onshore cabling and sub-station is specified to accommodate 180MW but the offshore appears to have a capacity of 320MW.
  • If the technology doesn’t work, what happens to the installed infrastructure then?
WHAT WE DO KNOW
  • The length of just one floating tidal energy device is nearly three times the height of South Stack Lighthouse, and that’s just the bit you can see above the water surface!
  • Conservation groups argue that the Morlais Project as currently planned will have a significantly detrimental impact on species and habitats that have been protected and have thrived in this area for decades.
  • Large floating tidal devices will have an adverse visual effect on an area of outstanding national beauty and make South Stack into an industrial seascape.
    Link to NRW letter
IS IT REALLY WORTH IT ?
Read more

THE INSTALLATION

WHAT WE DON’T KNOW
  • Whether the technology actually works when it is located out in the sea. If it does work:
  • where will the next tidal stream energy project be located on the Anglesey and what level of destruction/disruption will that bring?
  • whether we can look forward to another round of onshore and offshore industrialisation as the planned onshore cabling and sub-station is specified to accommodate 180MW but the offshore appears to have a capacity of 320MW.
  • If the technology doesn’t work, what happens to the installed infrastructure then?
WHAT WE DO KNOW
  • The length of just one floating tidal energy device is nearly three times the height of South Stack Lighthouse, and that’s just the bit you can see above the water surface!
  • Conservation groups argue that the Morlais Project as currently planned will have a significantly detrimental impact on species and habitats that have been protected and have thrived in this area for decades.
  • Large floating tidal devices will have an adverse visual effect on an area of outstanding national beauty and make South Stack into an industrial seascape.
    Link to NRW letter
IS IT REALLY WORTH IT ?
Read more

THE THREAT TO WILDLIFE

The wildlife and conservation groups all agree that many of the assessments that Morlais have submitted are inadequate, and the technology, monitoring and mitigation methods are not appropriate for a project of this scale and magnitude; indeed that some of the assessments have been based on broad scale generalisations in the absence of evidence. ECRMA (Encounter & Collision Rate Modelling Assessments) indicate the potential extinction of an entire razorbill colony at South Stack’ and that the impact on the mortality rate on marine species such as Bottlenose, Risso and Common Dolphins, Minke Whales, Harbour Porpoise and Grey and Harbour Seals remains high. View document

Further, it has been stated in objections that the Project has the potential to adversely impact the integrity of Cardigan Bay SAC (Special Area Of Conservation)

Read more

WHAT COST TO TOURISM

An Anglesey/Gwynedd Council survey found that 41 % of visitors were attracted to the region by the scenery, landscapes and areas of natural beauty.

The Anglesey Coastal Path closely follows the coastline along the north west of Holy Island exactly where the Morlais Project will have a significant impact on landscapes, seascapes and environmental designated/protected areas. It is hard to believe that there wont be significant disruption to the local road networks and access to the coastal paths and other tourism/recreational activities. This area attracts circa 180,000 visitors per year who are supported by a thriving local holiday accommodation sector which in turn supports local employment.

If Morlais get the opportunity to industrialise this area of natural beauty, what cost to tourism, the thriving local hospitality sector and local jobs? Link document (section 10) Link to NRW letter

WHAT COST TO TOURISM

An Anglesey/Gwynedd Council survey found that 41 % of visitors were attracted to the region by the scenery, landscapes and areas of natural beauty.

The Anglesey Coastal Path closely follows the coastline along the north west of Holy Island exactly where the Morlais Project will have a significant impact on landscapes, seascapes and environmental designated/protected areas. It is hard to believe that there wont be significant disruption to the local road networks and access to the coastal paths and other tourism/recreational activities. This area attracts circa 180,000 visitors per year who are supported by a thriving local holiday accommodation sector which in turn supports local employment.

If Morlais get the opportunity to industrialise this area of natural beauty, what cost to tourism, the thriving local hospitality sector and local jobs? Link document (section 10)
Link to NRW letter

a statement from sshg

SSHG fully support the sustainable development of marine renewable energy generation as part of Wales’ and the UK’s energy policy. We believe that marine renewable energy generation can be compatible with an healthy natural environment but that this should not be at the expense of our most important heritage & wildlife sites and species. A significant concern with the Morlais Project is that the west coast of Holy Island is an highly protected area of natural beauty and conservation and as such is the wrong location to be developing and demonstrating industrial sized tidal stream energy devices.