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Last day for public comment on Wave Hub
by Richard Hardy
11/08/2006:// With today being the last day that the public can comment on the Wave Hub Environmental Statement, Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has again reiterated its view that the project is a positive step forward for renewable energy and tackling climate change.
SAS believe that climate change poses a huge threat to the health of surfers and other recreational water users, and the way in which they pursue their sport. The UK Climate Impacts Programme1 has concluded that increased winter precipitation will increase the risk of sewer overflows and increase the runoff of pollutants into water courses and the sea. Sea level rise will increase the risk of flooding and erosion and result in a loss of coastal habitat. SAS believe this could potentially include a loss or degradation of some surf breaks in the UK.
Since being asked to provide input into the project almost 3 years ago, SAS have pushed heavily to get the impact the Wave Hub will have on the surf investigated.
The first of these, an independent peer reviewed study conducted by the University of Exeter2, is now in the public domain. SAS have been acknowledged by the Authors of this paper for their input. The research concludes that a realistic scenario for the wave hub would produce an average change in significant wave height at the shoreline of 1cm or less. SAS believe that any slight reduction in wave height will be unnoticeable by surfers. This view is backed by the peer reviewed paper which states:
There is little cause for concern that effects introduced by the Wave Hub will be felt by shoreline users of the sea.
This, along with worst case scenario modelling carried by Halcrow, suggests the impact of the Wave Hub will be minimal.
There is still some concern within the surfing community about future wave farm developments. SAS feel that future developments will need to be assessed by the surfing community on a case by case basis in an objective manner.
Campaign Director Richard Hardy says:
“SAS welcome the debate on wave farms in relation to their impact on the surf. While doing this, we should all remember the threat that climate change poses to surfers and the part renewable energy schemes can play in tacking them.
The independent research carried out by the University of Exeter should provide reassurance to the surfing community that the Wave Hub is not something we should fear”
For more information, contact Richard Hardy, Andy Cummins or Andrew Knights on 01872 555950.
Notes:
1 - The UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) provides scenarios that show how our climate might change and co-ordinates research on dealing with our future climate. UKCIP was set up in April 1997, funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and based at the University of Oxford. Link
2 – D.L. Millar, H.C.M. Smith and Reeve, D.E. (in press). Modelling analysis of the sensitivity of shoreline change to a wave farm. Ocean Engineering. Available online at www.elsevier.com
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