Facts About Rampion 2

How Efficient are Wind Turbines?

The efficiency is primarily dependent on the site chosen for the installation, as wind strength and constancy are the key factors. The National Grid maintains the records of all windfarms around the UK and is an excellent source for comparison purposes. So, the existing  Rampion1 comes out at a 35% load factor compared to an equivalent power rated windfarm like the Hornsea 1B in Dogger Bank which has a load factor of 56%. 

Let’s put this into context for Rampion 2. RWE claim the windfarm will be able to power 1 million  homes and save almost 2 million tonnes of CO2 being sited off the Sussex coast. Were the installation to be made in the North Sea instead (where there is plenty of space available for windfarms) the power produced could supply an additional 600,000 homes and save another million tonnes of CO2. This would also reduce gas imports sooner and help the UK reach net zero sooner and would do more to reduce the upward pressure on UK electricity tariffs. Seems like a no brainer to us.

Is the site for Rampion 2 in accordance with Government Guidelines?

OESEA2 guidelines recommend all new seabased windfarms be located more than 14 miles from shore and 25 miles from a National Park. At 8 miles from shore, Rampion 2 does not meet either of these stipulations. Nowhere on the UK coast are there such large turbines so close to shore and Nowhere on the UK coast is there a windfarm spanning such a large proportion of the horizon.

Is the visual impact of turbines acceptable?

Let’s be clear. Rampion 2 is going to have turbines more than twice the height of the Rampion 1 turbines, and cover a sea area four times as large. The turbines will span the horizon from East to West across the whole of Sussex Bay from Newhaven to Selsey Bill. The visual effect will bear no comparison to Rampion 1. The graphic shown in this article gives you further comparisons with other well known structures including the Spinnaker Tower at Gunwharf Quays to give you a true sense of scale. At nightime, as we know from Rampion 1, each turbine will be illuminated by a blinking red light, further adding to the discomfort and distraction of residents and visitors.

You may have seen or heard the oft quoted claims by RWE that “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and many do appreciate the appearance of wind turbines” In support of this, they refer to a previous Public Opinion Survey of the Sussex Community for Rampion 1 carried out some years ago by Populis of 1000 people along the Sussex coast. RWE claim 85% support, but when you look in detail at the individual questions which includes “Like the appearance?”, the result showed support at only an average of 9% along the coast, with the extremes ranging from 16% in Brighton Pavillion and only 5% in Bognor/Littlehampton. Not what we would call ”many”.

We can also point to the 2781 residents that signed our Government petition opposing Rampion 2: petition.parliament.uk/petitions/594733.

Will there be an impact on land?

It is planned for an onshore cable link to be established at Clymping, after first ploughing through the offshore kelp forest, and then  cutting across the South Downs towards a substation at Bolney. Work will take 3-4 years and will have major consequences for traffic congestion, uprooting of trees and hedges,and damage to the ecosystem on the South Downs which includes the “Peppering*” project to diversify and rewild that is taking place on the Duke of Norfolk’s Estate.

*https://www.workingforwildlife.co.uk/case-studies/lowlands/shining-beacon-of-hope/

Of course, as you would expect these implications are being downplayed by RWE.

The sad thing is that if Rampion 2 were to be built in the North Sea instead, it could connect up with the transmission network already in place and being further developed there so would not require its own onshore link.