Transcript Gero Vella Offshore renewable energy: a business perspective On behalf of: Renewable Energy Systems Limited (RES) & Centrica Renewable Energy Limited (CREL)

Gero Vella
Offshore renewable energy: a business perspective
On behalf of:
Renewable Energy Systems Limited (RES) &
Centrica Renewable Energy Limited (CREL)
ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES
Outline
Addressing the challenges of developing offshore wind farms, whilst maintaining balance in the
marine environment, through a detailed consenting process, underpinned by;
• robust Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Continuous consultation with stakeholders to target their concerns
• Working as an industry to resolve generic issues through national liaison groups and
funding research into generic issues
Examples of how we have used the latest technology to investigate and mitigate potential
impacts
Industry-wide initiatives; COWRIE (environmental research), FLOWW (commercial fisheries),
and NOREL (shipping and navigation)
Looking ahead to the 3rd licensing round offshore (Round 3) and what more we might do
OFFSHORE WIND LICENSING ROUNDS
Round 1 & 2 sites (2001 and 2003)
Proposed R3 zones (October 2009)
CENTRICA’S WIND PORTFOLIO
ONSHORE
Operational wind farms:
• Glens of Foudland (26MW)
• Breas of Doune (72 MW)
OFFSHORE
Operational wind farms:
• Barrow (Round 1 – 90 MW)
• Lynn (Round 1 – 90 MW)
• Inner Dowsing ( Round 1 – 90 MW)
Consented:
• Lincs (Round 2 – 250 MW)
Consent being sought:
• Docking Shoal (Round 2 – 540 MW)
• Race Bank (Round 2 – 620 MW)
Braes of
Doune
CENTRICA’S WASH PROJECTS
CONSENTING PROCESS
Planning applications for offshore wind farms are made under the Electricity Act, FEPA and CPA all
of which require EIA to inform a decision on consent
Scoping
Public & stakeholder consultation
EIA
Data collection, analysis & assessment
Produce Environmental Statement
Submit Planning Application
Electricity Act (+TCPA), FEPA, CPA
Consent granted (general subject to
mitigation/monitoring)
N.B. This process is set to change
with Planning Act and Marine &
Coastal Access Bill and the
creation of the Independent
Planning Committee (IPC) and
Marine Management
Organisation (MMO)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
We aim to
• Collect of high quality data over suitable and agreed time periods for the physical, biological and
human environment
• Undertake transparent assessments to meet or exceed ‘best practice’
• Work closely with our stakeholders at local, regional and National levels to ensure that we are
meeting their requirements
• Work with other developers and stakeholders to identify solutions to common problems e.g.
– FLOWW - commercial fisheries Liaison group
– NOREL - shipping and navigation liaison group
– COWRIE – environmental liaison group funding research to benefit the industry
EIA DATA COLLECTION
Assessment of the potential effects on:
Physical Environment:
Coastal and sediment processes
Geology
Underwater noise and electromagnetic fields (EMF)
Biological Environment:
Birds
Marine mammals
Fish
Seabed communities
Conservation (designated sites, habitats and species)
Human Environment:
Shipping and navigation
Landscape & seascape
Commercial fishing
Archaeology & cultural heritage
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EXAMPLE 1: COASTAL PROCESSES
Using coastal and sediment processes modelling to identify the level of impact to specific
receptors (reefs and archaeological anomalies)
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EXAMPLE 2: SEABED COMMUNITIES AND REEFS
Using the latest technology to map and avoid important seabed communities
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USING RADAR TO TRACK PINK FOOTED GEESE
PRE
POST
RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION - COWRIE
COWRIE website: www.offshorewind.co.uk
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FLOWW & NOREL INDUSTRY LIAISON GROUPS
http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/sources/renewables/policy/offshore/stakeholder/page22667.html
CAN WE DO THINGS BETTER? … ‘ROUND 3’ IS ON THE WAY…
There is always room for improvement:
• Better scoping – making use of the data
becoming available from operating wind
farms to target real issues at the earliest
opportunity
• Better communication – working more
closely with our stakeholders to identify
solutions and build bridges on a project by
project level and nationally through liaison
groups
• An industry approach – continuing to work
together as an industry to meet generic
issues