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 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 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) Produce Environmental Statement Submit Planning Application Electricity Act (+TCPA), FEPA, CPA Consent granted (general subject to mitigation/monitoring)

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 8 8

EXAMPLE 1: COASTAL PROCESSES Using coastal and sediment processes modelling to identify the level of impact to specific receptors (reefs and archaeological anomalies) 9

EXAMPLE 2: SEABED COMMUNITIES AND REEFS Using the latest technology to map and avoid important seabed communities 10

USING RADAR TO TRACK PINK FOOTED GEESE PRE POST

RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION - COWRIE COWRIE website: www.offshorewind.co.uk 12

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