A significant UK energy project was rerouted after fans of the Harry Potter series voiced concerns that a pipeline would disrupt the filming location of Dobby the elf's grave on Freshwater West beach in Pembrokeshire.
The Greenlink interconnector, a £430 million project designed to transport solar and wind power between Ireland and the UK, was originally planned to run through the beach's dunes. This plan sparked an outcry among fans of J.K. Rowling's book series, as the character Dobby is buried on the beach in the final installment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Following numerous calls and protests from fans, project officials consulted with planners to redirect the cable around the site. Simon Ludlam, the former director of the Greenlink project and an advisor from Etchea Energy, stated that his team received "hundreds" of calls from concerned fans after a BBC Wales interview detailed the pipeline's original route. Ludlam recounted being initially unfamiliar with the character but was informed of the "very, very serious matter" to the fans.
Dobby, a house elf in the series, is fatally wounded while rescuing Harry Potter and teleports himself and the wizard to Shell Cottage on Freshwater West beach, where Harry buries him.
The Greenlink interconnector, which began operation in April of the previous year, has a capacity of 504MW, capable of powering approximately 380,000 homes. The 190-kilometer (118-mile) link connects Pembroke in Wales to Great Island in County Wexford, Ireland. It was described as one of Europe's first privately funded energy infrastructure projects of its kind, with the aim of reducing energy prices upon its opening.
Freshwater West beach is a protected conservation area known for its wildlife, including lizards, orchids, ground-nesting birds, seals, and porpoises. Dobby's memorial on the beach, decorated with stones and socks, draws thousands of visitors annually.
Previously, a consultation in 2022 addressed concerns over the memorial, noting high visitor numbers and potential pollution. The National Trust Wales investigated but concluded the memorial did not need to be removed, allowing it to remain on the beach "in the immediate term."