First Flight Wind Delays Geophysical Survey

First Flight Wind Ltd has announced that a geophysical survey off the south east coast of County Down, which was due to start later this month, is being delayed to later in 2014 or early 2015.

“In the areas we were intending to survey we had agreed disturbance payments with fishermen for them to remove their pots. We are grateful for their co-operation and we shall, of course, be honouring these agreements,” the company said.

Also, public consultation on First Flight Wind’s Offshore Scoping Report closes today. The Offshore Scoping Report and scoping consultation process will determine the issues that should be assessed in the offshore parts of the Environmental Impact Assessment. The report aims to ensure that all key impacts covering the human, biological and physical environment will be included – from ornithology to commercial fisheries, shipping and navigation to impacts on the seascape.

The First Flight Wind consortium, made up of B9 Energy, DONG Energy and RES,  selected to develop an offshore wind farm off the south east coast of County Down in Northern Ireland.

The consortium is currently undertaking two years of project design and assessment work in preparation for making applications for permission to construct the wind farm.

Press release, April 11, 2014; Image: First Flight Wind