Frequently Asked Questions

Won't the windfarm be visible for miles around?
Won't the windfarm destroy the beautiful landscape in the area?
Does the local community benefit from this project?
Won't noise from the turbines be very loud and intrusive?
How close are the turbines to houses?
What is 'Shadow Flicker'?
How much 'Shadow Flicker' will the houses around Curraheen windfarm experience?
Won't the turbines cause health problems for people in the area?
Aren't the turbines dangerous?
Will T.V. reception be affected?
Won't my property value be adversely affected by the windfarm?
We just don't want the windfarm here, why can't they go somewhere else?
How are our concerns being addressed?
How can I find out more?

Q. Won't the windfarm be visible for miles around?

A. Yes it will . The photomontages illustrate the final appearance of the windfarm from some of the key vantage points - see 'Visual Impacts'. This is an unavoidable effect of this type of green energy solution. Surveys of attitudes of the Irish Public indicate that 75% of people have positive feelings about the appearance of windfarms. For more information, you can check the survey on the S.E.I. website.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Won't the windfarm destroy the beautiful landscape in the area?

A. No. Opinions about the appearance of turbines on the landscape vary widely from person to person. Recent surveys of attitudes to windfarms in Ireland broadly support this opinion. As part of our examination of the impacts, we have looked at the important viewpoints as identified in the South Tipperary County Development Plan and our conclusion is that these views will not be significantly affected by the proposed windfarm - see 'Visual Impacts'. We maintain that turbines are elegant structures and will be a positive contribution to the landscape.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Does the local community benefit from this project?

A. The promoters have offered to discuss how local community organisations can derive benefit from the windfarm. Feedback would be welcome on this subject from interested parties.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Won't noise from the turbines be very loud and intrusive?

A. No. We have located turbines so as to keep the noise impact from Curraheen windfarm to within the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government's (DoEHLG) Wind Energy Development Guidelines 2006. The noise levels at a wind speed of 8m/s exceed the night time criteria of 43dB at two third party residences. However when this occurs a lower power configuration will be used to reduce the noise levels to allowable levels - see 'Noise Impacts'.

click here to go back to the top

Q. How close are the turbines to houses?

A. There is one residential property within 500m of a turbine. However this property is owned by a wind farm supporter. There is no third party dwelling within 500m of a turbine.

click here to go back to the top

Q. What is 'Shadow Flicker'?

A. 'Shadow Flicker' is the effect seen by someone looking at the sun shining through the turning rotor blades of a turbine. The locations and duration that this is visible varies as the sun travels on its daily path from east to west, and also, with the season of the year. It also needs the rotors to be across the line of sight to the sun, i.e. the wind direction is a key factor also.

click here to go back to the top

Q. How much 'Shadow Flicker' will the houses around Curraheen Windfarm experience?

A. Very little. The amount of 'Shadow Flicker' can be predicted by specialised computer programs. The results show that no house between 500m and 1500m from turbines will experience 'Shadow Flicker' for more than 30 hours per annum which is in line with the DoEHLG guidelines. Houses more than 1300m from the windfarm will experience no Shadow Flicker. 12 number properties may exceed the 30 minutes per day criteria for shadow flicker. However after mitigation there will be no exceedance of this criterion either.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Won't the turbines cause health problems for people in the area?

A. No. There is no recorded incident of any member of the public being injured in any way by an operating windfarm. Likewise, there is no scientific or verifiable evidence to support claims that windfarms cause any health problems whatsoever. There are no emissions of any kind from a windfarm, which is in stark contrast to conventional fossil fuel power stations. Windfarms are entirely safe.

Q. Aren't the turbines dangerous?

A. No. Turbines have serious technical problems only in very rare cases. Improving technology and constant 24 hour monitoring means that any problems are generally corrected by minor maintenance at regular intervals. For example, normal farming can continue under the turbines.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Will T.V. reception be affected?

A. Definitely not for cable or satellite subscribers. For dwellings will traditional T.V. antennae, it cannot be predicted accurately if there will be problems. However, there is a chance that there will be some interference with T.V. reception. We have agreed procedures with RTÉ to establish procedures to investigate any complaints of interference and correct them if it is shown that the windfarm is responsible.

click here to go back to the top

Q. Won't my property value be adversely affected by the windfarm?

A. We maintain no. Evidence in the U.K. and elsewhere suggests that while some values may drop initially, they recover again quickly as the windfarm becomes a familiar part of the landscape.

click here to go back to the top

Q. We just don't want the windfarm here, why can't they go somewhere else?

A. We acknowledge the degree of change that the proposed windfarm represents for Curraheen and the genuinely felt concerns that some may have at this proposed development in the area. But wind energy is the only realistic way to generate significant amounts of green energy, and windfarms have to go somewhere. We maintain that Curraheen is very suitable in terms of the wind climate and all other factors, and the EIS demonstrates clearly why this site is entirely suitable for a windfarm.

click here to go back to the top

Q. How are our concerns being addressed?

A. A public information evening was held on 19th June 2006 in the Community Hall in Faugheen, from which we received feedback on the proposed Curraheen Windfarm. Partly as a result of the comments received, a modified design of 8 turbines, in revised locations, will be used when we apply for planning permission. We would welcome your comments on the proposed windfarm. You can e-mail these to us by using the feedback page. We will consider all comments received as part of the ongoing design process. As part of preparing the planning application for Curraheen Windfarm, a detailed Environmental Impact Statement is being prepared by specialist Consultants. The EIS addresses all aspects of the proposed development, and proposes mitigation measures where necessary, so as to minimise the impacts from the proposed development. Every care is being taken to be comprehensive in this process.

click here to go back to the top

Q. How can I find out more?