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

2. 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

3. OFFSHORE WIND LICENSING ROUNDS
Round 1 & 2 sites (2001 and 2003)
Proposed R3 zones (October 2009)

4. 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

5. CENTRICA’S WASH PROJECTS

6. 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)

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

11. USING RADAR TO TRACK PINK FOOTED GEESE
PRE
POST

12. RESEARCH & COMMUNICATION - COWRIE
COWRIE website: 12

13. FLOWW & NOREL INDUSTRY LIAISON GROUPS

14. 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