Santiago de Compostela (Spain), 27–30 April 2008
Block I of IMCG’s 2007–2010 Action Plan focuses on the implications for peatlands of energy-related issues. These include the utilization of oil and gas reserves, fuel peat policy, and the development of renewable energy resources for climate change mitigation (e.g. wind, hydropower, energy crops, biomass). This symposium will be the first activity within the theme, and it will focus on the intersection of European policy for wind farm development with peatland interests.
In line with the UNFCCC/Kyoto agenda, it looks as though the European Union will require its members collectively to derive 20% of energy requirements from renewable sources by 2020. Wind power generation is currently regarded as the most viable technology, and already wind farms seem to be appearing everywhere. Especially in upland locations and oceanic countries, many of the preferred sites are on peatland.
In the UK, work began on Europe’s largest wind farm to date at the 55 km2 Whitelee site on peaty moorland to the south of Glasgow (140 turbines, 322 MW) in October 2006. Debate continues over an even larger proposal for the peat-covered west-coast island of Lewis (initially 234 turbines, ca. 702 MW), and further giant developments on peatland are expected.
The strings of turbines on the Galician mountain ridge mires in northern Spain already stretch as far as the eye can see (IMCG Newsletter 2007/1, page 14).
Environmental impact studies usually predict rather small effects on the peatland habitat. But wind farm construction in Ireland triggered multiple ‘bog slides’ – the most catastrophic at Derrybrien – which seemed to belie this expectation and led us to question whether the planning process took account of the special characteristics of peatland[1]. Certainly, the engineering work (peat removal, road construction, blasting) required to install a wind farm resembles operations that have in the past been associated with the degradation of peatlands, loss of biodiversity and impairment of their ability to deliver other goods and services. On the other hand, some of the peatlands targeted are substantially degraded, and opportunities for their restoration are flagged as potential secondary benefits from wind farm development.
This symposium will provide a forum for scientists, policy-makers and practitioners dealing with these matters to exchange insights and experience; and to begin working towards a common understanding of the issues, the formulation of principles for 'wise/best practice' and the identification of research needs and priorities. The attractive location of Santiago de Compostela (UNESCO World Heritage since 1985) in northern Spain will allow us to visit virtually unknown mires in the Galician mountains, both with and without wind farm development, and a subsidiary aim will be to promote a wise use plan for these mires. We shall also launch the more general IMCG initiative on peatlands and energy, and we hope that by then we shall be in a position to take this forward through a European COST action (see below).
Essential details of the Symposium are as follows:
Dates (in 2008): Sunday 28 April (21:00) to Wednesday 30 April (ca. 23:00); optional post-symposium excursion Thursday 1 and Friday 2 May, returning to Santiago de Compostela late evening.
Venue: The University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Santiago International Airport, 12 km from the town centre, is served by several airlines including low-cost companies (e.g. Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Air Berlin). There are connecting flights from Madrid and Barcelona to Santiago. Other nearby airports are at A Coruña (60 km) and Vigo (75 km), and Porto (Portugal) is within ca. 2.5 hours by car.
Outline programme:
SYMPOSIUM
Sunday 27 April: Arrival in Santiago de Compostela. Reception and dinner 21:00 hrs.
Monday 28 April: Full-day excursion to wind farms on blanket bogs in O Xistral and Buio. Departure 08:00 hrs.
Tuesday 29 April: Official reception, scientific and poster sessions.
Wednesday 30 April: Scientific sessions, synthesis and conclusion, closing dinner 21:00 hrs
POST-SYMPOSIUM EXCURSION
Thursday 01 May: 08:00 hrs: departure from Santiago towards O Xistral; full-day excursion visiting mires, dinner and overnight stay at Lugo.
Friday 02 May: 08:00 hrs: departure from Lugo towards Os Ancares; full-day excursion visiting mires, returning to Santiago in the evening.
Indicative costs:
Symposium (27–30 April) including field excursion, symposium documentation, receptions and all meals and refreshments (except breakfast) from dinner on Sunday 27 April up to and including dinner on 30 April, 400 € (50 € reduction for IMCG members, 50€ surcharge for late booking; concessions and accompanying persons 200 €).
Accommodation. There is a wide range of hotels in the centre of Santiago. The organisers will provide a list of recommended establishments to allow delegates to choose and book their own accommodation. Prices (per room per day, with breakfast and including VAT) range from around 40€ (single)/50€ (double) to 200 €. Also ample possibilities for budget hostel-type accommodation are available.
Post-symposium excursion (01–02 May) including travel, meals and overnight accommodation 150 €.
If you are interested in attending and/or making a presentation at this symposium, please contact Eduardo Garcia Rodeja at edcone@usc.es
In Spain wind power has reached an extraordinary development, only surpassed
by Germany. Galicia, with 2,603 Mw [2007/01/01], produces 22.41% of the total
wind power in Spain. The total amount of planned wind power in Galicia is 3,400
Mw for the year 2010 and 6,500 Mw for 2012. At present, Galicia is ranked sixth
in the world with respect to installed power with the greatest density of installations
world-wide (88 kW/km2).
About 80% of the 10,000 ha of Galician mountain peatlands are located in ‘Serra
do Xistral’ and ‘Buio’. The area has been declared Site of Community Importance
(SCI), a large step in the direction of integration in the EU Nature 2000 Network.
The area moreover significantly contributes to the Biosphere Reserve of ‘Terras
do Miño’. Although the peatlands were the most relevant argument to justify
these conservation measures, paradoxically they are now seriously threatened
by various activities, including the development of the ‘Galician Wind Power
Plan’. This plan has brought about a huge expansion of wind farms affecting
all types of mires, from blanket bogs to fens and raised bogs in a variety of
geomorphologic locations.
In the year 1998 there were not wind farms in the ‘Serra do Xistral and Buio’,
but at present there are 23 wind farms, with 4-6 ha of surface directly
occupied in average, and 680 wind mills that produce about 580 MW. Furthermore,
the Galician Government is still planning to increase the number of wind farms
in this area.
Wind farm on Pena da Cadela blanket bog at Galicia. The
picture at the top was taken in 1998, before road opening (middle picture) and
wind farm implementation (2000, bottom picture) on a blanket bog at
[1] Lindsay, R. and Bragg, O. (2004) Wind Farms and Blanket Peat. The Bog Slide of 16th October 2003 at Derrybrien, Co. Galway, Ireland. Report to V.P. Shields & Son, Loughrea. University of East London.