SAS welcomes new scientific study that confirms minimal impacts on the Surf from Wave Hub

Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) has today welcomed the findings from a new study by an internationally recognized marine consultant and leading academic in the field of surfing that has found Wave Hub's maximum impact on the near-shore shore wave climate would be a slight reduction in wave height of between 3 and 6%.

Dr Kerry Black, was commissioned by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWERDA) to review, using his own models, a SWERDA wave impact assessment and a peer reviewed paper on Wave Hub by the University of Exeter. Both of these previous studies had already determined similar 'negligible' impacts on near-shore wave height and Kerry Black's results compliment these earlier findings.

Last June SWERDA submitted consent applications to the UK Government for Wave Hub to be sited 10 miles out from St Ives Bay. A decision is expected shortly on the proposal, which if successful, could allow for Wave Hub to be fully operational by the summer of 2008, making it the largest operating test wave farm in the world.

SAS believe offshore renewable technologies have the potential to deliver an abundance of clean and safe energy in the UK, offsetting our reliance on some of the energy technologies in use today that are hugely damaging and polluting to the water environment.

Projects like Wave Hub will help the UK meet it's renewable energy targets and should be seen as an effective technology in combating climate change, which could be hugely damaging for recreational water users, including surfers in the future, due to predicted poorer water quality and rising sea levels.

SAS will continue to examine the placement of all offshore renewable energy technologies on a case-by-case basis. And like Wave Hub, SAS will insist on the need for ongoing monitoring once a project is operational.

Andy Cummins, SAS Campaigns Officer says:

"Kerry Black's review is good news for surfers, for the Wave Hub and for the global fight against climate change.

From day 1 of the Wave Hub project, SAS were the only voice calling for a near-shore shore wave impact assessment. Now there have been 3! After reviewing the first 2 models we were confident that the impacts of Wave Hub on the surf would be minimal, Kerry's review and modelling looks to have confirmed this.

SAS believe these comprehensive scientific studies should give further reassurance to all recreational water users that offshore renewable technologies and wave riders can exist alongside one another harmoniously and put a stop to poorly considered comments such as Wave Hub "could make the Atlantic as unsurfable as the Irish Sea".

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Dr Kerry Black's review

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