Last Updated: 08/10/2013

Ness of Duncansby Tidal Array

Developer: ScottishPower Renewables

Site size: Unknown

Site location: The area under consideration is off Ness of Duncansby, in the waters to the north of the Scottish mainland. There are piers at and Ness of Duncansby which are accessed via local roads connecting to the coastal A836. The Gills Bay () to St Margarets Hope (north shores of ) ferry route passes to the north of the Duncans by site. ScottishPower Renewables223.2. South Ronaldsay is the nearest Island to , being approximately 10km (6 miles) across the Pentland from John O'Groats and lies within Orkney Islands. There are no nearby surf beaches.

Technology: ScottishPower Renewables is at an early stage in investigating the potential for a 95 megawatt tidal project off the north coast of Caithness at Duncansby. This site was secured as part of The ’s leasing round and will be developed in phases. It is anticipated that phase one of this project will have a capacity of up to 30 megawatts and the aim is to develop up to a further 65 megawatts of cleaner greener energy after this initial stage is complete.

95 tidal devices will be deployed, each consisting of a tripod base support structure, modular nacelle, hub and blades which are connected onshore via a subsea umbilical. The rotor diameter will be 16-23m and the turbine will have a total maximum height of 28-39m.

A review of various foundation and batch deployment options has confirmed that the tripod base arrangement is the optimum approach. Due to the energetic waters of the Pentland Firth, the foundations may require to be pinned to the seabed as an alternative to gravity based anchoring.

Development stage: ScottishPower Renewables is at an early stage in investigating the potential for a 95 megawatt tidal project off the north coast of Caithness at Duncansby. Now is the best time to contact get involved in the planning by contacting the developer or taking part in community events, details of which can be found on the developer’s site or in local newspapers.

Timeline: Scoping Report: 21/08/2012

Scoping Opinion: 28/02/2013

Contact Details:  ScottishPower Renewables Cathcart Business Park Last Updated: 08/10/2013

Spean Street Glasgow G44 4BE Tel: 0141 568 2000

Regulator details:  The Scottish Government - Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team The Scottish Government Marine Scotland Marine Laboratory PO Box 101, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB [email protected]

Consultees:  Department of Energy and  The Marine Management Climate Change Organisation (MMO) 3 Whitehall Place Lancaster House London Hampshire Court SW1A 2AW Newcastle upon Tyne Tel: 0300 060 4000 NE4 7YH [email protected] Tel: 0300 123 1032 [email protected]  Cefas/Defra C/O Cefas  Maritime and Coastguard Agency Pakefield Road Maritime and Coastguard Agency Lowestoft Spring Place Suffolk 105 Commercial Road NR33 0HT Southampton Tel: 01502 524228 Hants SO15 1EG  International Council for the Tel: 02380 329100 Explorations of the Sea International Council for the  Marine Scotland Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Marine Scotland H. C. Andersens Boulevard 44-46 1st Floor DK-1553 Victoria Quay  JNCC EH6 6QQ Joint Nature Conservation Committee Tel: 08457741741 Monkstone House [email protected] City Road Peterborough  Scottish Fishermen’s Federation PE1 1JY Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) Tel: 01733 562626 / SFF Services Limited (SFFS) [email protected] Last Updated: 08/10/2013

24 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 Edinburgh 1XE EH2 3DA Tel: +44 (0)1224 646944 Tel: +44(0) 131 473 3100 [email protected] [email protected]

 Scottish Natural Heritage  Historic Scotland Great Glen House Historic Scotland Leachkin Road Longmore HouseSalisbury Place INVERNESS Edinburgh IV3 8NW EH9 1SH Tel: 0131 668 8600  Royal Yatching Association RYA House  The Crown Estate Ensign Way The Crown Estate Hamble 16 New Burlington Place Hants London SO31 4YA W1S 2HX Tel: 023 8060 4100 Tel +44 (0)20 7851 5000 [email protected]  Northern Lighthouse Board Northern Lighthouse Board 84 George Street

SAS traffic light system:

No Concerns This project is not expected to have any impact on local surf beaches or impact on wave resources.