Charities urge ministers to reject plans for wind farm
THE Scottish Government is being urged to reject plans for a new offshore wind farm over concerns it would result in “significant losses” to nearby seabird populations.
The Berwick Bank offshore wind farm being proposed by SSE Renewables (SSE-R) would, if approved, become Scotland’s largest with more than 300 turbines covering an area four times the size of Edinburgh.
Located in the outer Firth of Forth, SSE-R says that once completed, the project would be capable of generating enough energy to power six million homes. However, leading conservation charities have highlighted that the proposed site for the project neighbours the St Abb’s Head National Nature Reserve and Bass Rock, which both host internationally significant populations of seabirds.
The charities have raised concerns about the location and an alleged lack of detail on how the turbines’ impact on seabirds will be mitigated.
Independent research by the National Trust of Scotland (NTS) – which cares for the St Abb’s Head reserve – found a majority of the local population had objections to a wind farm that could cause significant damage to nature.
A total of 80% of respondents agreed that the Berwick Bank development should be re-sited to a different offshore location where its impacts would be lessened, even if it was more costly for the developer.
Meanwhile, 60% said they did not believe that significant damage to seabird colonies was a price worth paying to increase Scotland’s renewable energy capacity.
Dr Cal Major, an ambassador for the NTS, said seabird populations were already in a fragile state and didn’t need added pressure on their populations.
She said: “I strongly back this call for Scottish ministers to reject the current Berwick Bank proposal and for SSE-R to re-site the wind farm to a less ecologically damaging location.
“Our conservation charity supports the expansion of offshore wind farms, which are a vital component of Scotland’s journey to net zero. However, they must be sited in the right places for nature. This location – off St Abb’s Head with its precious seabird colonies – is clearly not the right site.
“One element that especially concerns us is Berwick Bank’s likely impact on seabirds, with predicted mortality rates much higher than other offshore wind farms. For example, seven times as many kittiwakes will be removed from the population, per GW of energy produced, than at Hornsea Three [off the coast of Norfolk] where predicted impacts are already considered to be high.
“It’s surely unacceptable to create this additional threat to colonies when seabirds such as puffins, kittiwakes, gannets and razorbills are already under huge pressure from climate change, dwindling food supplies and avian flu. Re-siting Berwick Bank gives them at least some chance of recovery.”
A recent study led by the RSPB found that Scotland’s seabird populations were suffering “catastrophic” declines due to avian flu.
Bass Rock is home to the world’s largest colony of northern gannets. However, the study found that the gannet population in Scotland had reduced by 22% since the first wave of avian flu outbreaks in 2021.
The director of RSPB Scotland, Anne McCall, said the decision of the Scottish Government could have “profound” impacts on nature.
She added: “The Scottish Government needs to carefully consider whether there are better alternatives to this development, and what the implications of permitting it might be for the many other offshore wind developments that will follow in its footsteps.”
SSE-R was contacted for comment.