Scientists 'extremely worried' about impact Costa Brava wind farm could have on environment

As SENER and BlueFloat Energy attempt to move forward with plans to build a floating wind farm in the Gulf of Roses, off the Costa Brava in northern Catalonia, nine researchers have signed a manifesto expressing their concerns about this project.

Josep Lloret and Josep Vila Subirós of the University of Girona, Jordi Solé of the University of Barcelona, and Antonio Turiel, Rafael Sardá, Alberto Olivares, Ana Sabatés, Elisa Berdalet, and Josep Maria Gili of the Spanish National Research Council scientists affirm that they are "extremely worried" about the Parc Tramuntana wind farm due to its size and potential environmental impact and believe alternatives should be studied "urgently."

Parc Tramuntana, if built, would initially have 36 turbines before eventually having 84 in order to cover 90% of the Girona area's energy needs, making it one of the biggest wind farms in Europe and the entire Mediterranean region.

As for the power plant's impact on the environment, these scientists believe it could be detrimental to two nearby marine reserves, a special protection area for birds, as well as the Aiguamolls natural park, which is where cables carrying the electricity that is generated would have to be located.

According to the scientists, extreme weather events caused by climate change could damage the turbines in the future, and, like many locals, they also lament the visual impact the wind farm would have on the landscape while noting potential negative "repercussions it could have on the economy, society, and culture."

'Stop Macroparc Èolic' propose building wind farm 70 km off coast

'Stop Macroparc Eòlic', an eclectic group of local business owners and environmentalists which has vocally opposed the construction of the Parc Tramuntana since SENER and BlueFloat Energy's plans were made public, have presented a video portraying what the wind farm could look like.

According to Anna Zahonero, the biologist behind the platform's study, Parc Tramuntana would have a "terrible impact" on the area, which is why she proposes building it 70 kilometers off the coast rather than the 14 as SENER and BlueFloat Energy hope will be the case.

Comparing it to building a wind farm on the beloved Montserrat mountain, Zahonero believes these companies have not considered the sea as a part of Catalonia's common heritage.

Filling the Sink Podcast

Press play below to listen to the podcast on the debate around the Gulf of Roses wind farm.