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Forthwind Offshore Wind Demonstration Project

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Forthwind Offshore Wind Demonstration Project FORTHWIND OFFSHORE WIND DEMONSTRATION PROJECT Environmental Scoping Request Prepared by Cierco Ltd April 2019 Environment Scoping Report Forthwind Demonstration Project This report has been prepared by Cierco Ltd on behalf of Forthwind Ltd. Cierco Ltd has made reasonable efforts to ensure that the content is accurate, up to date and complete for the purpose of scoping. Cierco Ltd and Forthwind Ltd shall have no liability for any loss, damage, injury, claim, expense, cost or other consequence arising as a result of use or reliance upon any information contained in or omitted from this document. Copies of this Scoping Report can be downloaded from the website at www.ciercoenergy.com or obtained by writing to Forthwind Ltd using the contact details below: Forthwind Ltd, c/o Cierco Ltd, The Boathouse, Hawkcraig Road, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 0TZ Telephone: 01383 662 163 Email: [email protected] April 2019 Page 1 Forthwind Demonstration Project Environment Scoping Report Table of Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.1. Background ........................................................................................................................... 11 1.2. The Developer ....................................................................................................................... 11 1.3. Overview of Forthwind Existing Consents, Scoping Application and Variations .................. 12 1.3.1. Original Proposal granted consent in December 2016 ..................................................... 12 1.3.2. 2016 Forthwind Array Scoping Report .............................................................................. 12 1.3.3. 2018 Variation Application ............................................................................................... 13 1.3.4. This 2019 Scoping Report .................................................................................................. 13 1.4. The Need and Purpose of the Proposed Development ........................................................ 15 1.4.1. Need for Turbine Demonstration...................................................................................... 15 1.4.2. Purpose of the Development ............................................................................................ 15 1.5. Proposed Changes to the Design Envelope .......................................................................... 16 1.6. Regulatory Framework .......................................................................................................... 17 2. Approach to Scoping ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 19 2.2. The Approach to Scoping of the Project ............................................................................... 19 2.3. Scoping Report ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.4. Approach to Scoping of Cumulative Impacts ........................................................................ 20 2.5. Proposed Scoping Consultation ............................................................................................ 20 3. Consents and EIA........................................................................................................................... 21 3.1. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ....................................................................... 22 3.2. Structure of the Environment Statement ............................................................................. 23 3.3. Cumulative Effects Assessment............................................................................................. 24 3.4. Non-Technical Summary ....................................................................................................... 24 4. Project Description ........................................................................................................................ 25 4.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 25 4.2. Site Location .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.2.1. Offshore ............................................................................................................................ 26 4.2.2. Onshore ............................................................................................................................. 26 4.3. Wind Turbines ....................................................................................................................... 27 4.3.1. Turbine Locations .............................................................................................................. 27 4.3.2. Turbine Technology........................................................................................................... 27 4.3.3. Turbine Appearance and Markings ................................................................................... 29 4.3.4. Structure and Foundations ............................................................................................... 29 4.3.5. Electricity Export Cables .................................................................................................... 31 Page 2 April 2019 Environment Scoping Report Forthwind Demonstration Project 4.4. Turbine Construction and Installation Methods ................................................................... 31 4.4.1. Turbine Assembly and Preparation ................................................................................... 32 4.4.2. Overview of the Offshore Installation Process ................................................................. 32 4.4.3. Pile Loadout and Site preparation .................................................................................... 33 4.4.4. Pile Foundation Installation .............................................................................................. 34 4.4.5. Installation of Offshore Electricity Cables ......................................................................... 35 4.4.6. Overview of Cable Installation Process ............................................................................. 37 4.5. Onshore Works and Infrastructure ....................................................................................... 39 4.5.1. Onshore Works Construction Hours and Noise Management ......................................... 40 4.6. Project Operation and Maintenance Approach .................................................................... 40 4.6.1. Maintenance of the cable during operation ..................................................................... 40 5. Planning Policy .............................................................................................................................. 41 6. Airborne Noise and Shadow Flicker .............................................................................................. 42 6.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 42 6.2. Baseline Noise Characterisation ............................................................................................ 42 6.3. Noise Modelling Assessment ................................................................................................ 42 6.4. Potential Effects .................................................................................................................... 42 6.5. Potential Construction Effects .............................................................................................. 43 6.6. Potential Operational Effects – Airborne Noise .................................................................... 43 6.7. Potential Operational Effects – Shadow Flicker .................................................................... 43 6.8. Potential Decommissioning Effects ....................................................................................... 43 6.9. Potential cumulative effects ................................................................................................. 43 6.10. Summary of potential effects ............................................................................................ 44 7. Shipping and Navigation ............................................................................................................... 45 7.1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 45 7.2. Desktop Baseline Characterisation ....................................................................................... 45 7.3. Marine Traffic ........................................................................................................................ 45 7.4. Commercial Fishing Activity .................................................................................................. 46 7.5. Navigational Risk Assessment ............................................................................................... 47 7.6. Hazard Workshop and Development
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