Wind Farm Visitor Centre For Greystones?

When the wind blows…

atest press release from Cllr Derek Mitchell, issued on Thursday, November 4th 2021…

Greystones will be Wind Farm Central with the Codling Bank and the Dublin Array turbines meeting offshore – two of the largest wind farms in Ireland.

It is vital that this benefits the town and it is connected to them. I asked a year ago for one or both to set up an Interpretive Centre in Greystones with a view of the wind farm. So far they have made no commitments.

I visited the Rampion Wind Farm Visitors Centre in Brighton, UK, to learn about this. I was very impressed with its educational and visitor value including:

· Augmented Reality of going up the towers.

· Models of special ships and films of the dramatic erection of the turbines.

· An electronic display dealing with aspects of it with a quiz to say why things were done that way including the about 16 mile underground connection cable, why site the wind farm there. Very good for curious people.

· Bright and cheerful with facilities and papers for children. They get teachers along, explain it and arrange school visits.

· 2 staff to assist and explain displays.

· Also displays dealing with the need for wind farms.

Pic: Darren Cool

· Explanations of local groups who have benefited from the local funding.

We are going to have to look at these turbines for a long time so Greystones, Kilcoole & Newcastle must benefit.

The wind farms are necessary to get carbon-free electricity which can be generated at low cost on these shallow offshore banks.