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REQUEST FOR SCOPING OPINION BY DP MARINE ENERGY LIMITED in respect of ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY PROJECT Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Report May 2009 Submitted by DP Marine Energy Ltd Registered Office: Mill House, Buttevant, Co Cork, Ireland Registered in Ireland No 456838 Directors Maureen De Pietro and Simon De Pietro Tel: (+353) (0) 2223955 Fax: (+353) (0) 2223027 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.dpenergy.com ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT Table of Contents: 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Scope and Method Proposal 1 1.2 Legislation and Guidance 2 1.2.1 Legislation 2 1.2.1.1 Electricity Act 1989 – Section 36 2 1.2.1.2 Food and Environmental Protection Act 1985 – Section 5 2 1.2.1.3 Coastal Protection Act 1949 – Section 34 2 1.2.1.4 Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 2 1.2.1.5 Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 3 1.2.2 Guidance 3 2.0 Project Description 4 2.1 Site Description 4 2.1.1 Location and Scale 4 2.1.2. Navigation 4 2.1.3. Water Depths 4 2.1.4. Resource 4 2.1.5 Environmental Constraints 4 2.2 Proposed Development 5 2.2.1 Tidal Farm – Outline Development Strategy 5 2.2.1.1 Fundamental Criteria 5 2.2.1.2 Technology Options 5 2.2.1.3 Technology Neutral Approach - Purpose 5 2.2.1.4 Technology Neutral Approach – Effect on the EIA 6 2.2.1.5 Islay Technology Approach 7 2.2.2 Tidal Farm – Islay Strategy 7 2.2.2.1 Phase 1 – Approximately 7.5MW Installed Capacity 8 2.2.2.2 Phase 2 - Approximately 50MW Installed Capacity 8 2.2.2.3 Phase 3 – Approximately 400MW Installed Capacity 8 2.2.3 Tidal Devices 8 2.2.3.1 Design Layout – Device Envelope 9 2.2.3.2 Design Layout – Array Spacing 9 2.2.3.3 Rotor Diameter – Turbulence and Depths 10 2.2.3.4 Foundation 10 2.2.3.5 Structure 11 2.2.3.6 Rotors 11 2.2.3.7 Ancillary Equipment 12 2.2.3.8 Corrosion and Anti Fouling 12 2.2.3.9 Mineral Oils 12 ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT 2.2.4 Electrical Connection from Tidal Devices to Onshore Control Building 12 2.2.4.1 Sub-sea Cabling to Near-shore 13 2.2.4.2 Sub-sea Cabling from Near-shore to Land 13 2.2.4.3 Onshore Cable Routing to Onshore Sub-station 13 2.2.4.4 Onshore Sub-station and Control Building 13 2.2.5 Maintenance Facility 13 2.2.6 Decommissioning 14 2.2.6.1 Turbines 14 2.2.6.2 Subsea Cables 14 2.2.6.3 Sub-station/Control Building 14 2.2.6.4 Maintenance Facility 14 3.0 Potential Environmental Impact and Other Issues. 15 3.1 The EIA Process 15 3.1.1 Scope 15 3.1.2 Objectives and the Technology Neutral Approach 15 3.1.3 Current Assessment Status 15 3.1.3.1 Desk Based Assessment 16 3.1.3.2 Prescoping Consultation 16 3.1.3.3 Site Surveys 16 3.1.3.4 Summary of Assessment and Consultation Status 17 3.1.4 Purpose of Scoping Document 17 3.1.5 Consultation During the EIA 17 3.2 Topics to be Addressed by the EIA 17 3.2.1 Marine Activities and Risk Assessment 17 3.2.2 Onshore Activities and Risk Assessment 19 4.0 Alternatives and Rationale 20 4.1 Introduction 20 4.2 Tidal Energy Versus Other Energy Sources 20 4.2.1 Scottish Government Policy and Aspirations 20 4.2.2 Why Tidal Energy? 21 4.2.3 Alternative Marine Energy Sources 21 4.2.3.1 Offshore Wind Farms 22 4.2.3.2 Wave Power 22 4.3 Alternative Tidal Energy Development Sites 23 4.3.1 Introduction 23 4.3.2 Site Selection Process 23 4.3.2.1 Introduction 23 4.3.2.2 Technically Available Resource 24 ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT 4.3.2.3 Practical Resource 24 4.3.2.4 Accessible Resource 24 4.4 Islay Site 25 4.5 Technologies – Alternatives 26 4.5.1 Introduction 26 4.5.2 Types of Device - General Discussion 27 4.5.2.1 Tidal Basin, Barrages and Lagoons. 27 4.5.2.2 Energy Stream Converters and Tidal Fences 28 4.5.3 Selected Design Envelope and Effect on EIA 31 4.5.3.1 Open or Closed Rotor 31 4.5.3.2 Surface Piercing or Submerged Structure 31 4.5.3.3 Foundations 32 5.0 Scope of Work – Physical Environment 33 5.1 Marine Geology 33 5.1.1 Introduction 33 5.1.1.1 Non Intrusive Surveys (Geological Assessment) 33 5.1.1.2 Intrusive Surveys (Geotechnical Assessment) 33 5.1.2 Current Knowledge 34 5.1.2.1 Field Assessments 34 5.1.2.2 BGS Data Records 34 5.1.3 Potential Effects 35 5.1.3.1 EIA Surveys 35 5.1.3.2 Preconstruction Geotechnical Survey 35 5.1.3.3 Construction 35 5.1.4 EIA Surveys for Marine Geology Scope and Methodology 36 5.1.4.1 Phase 1 – Desk Based Study 36 5.1.4.2 Phase 2 – Geophysical Assessment 36 5.1.5 Marine Geotechnical Surveys Scope and Methodology 37 5.1.5.1 Geotechnical Assessment (Phase 3) 38 5.1.6 Onshore Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology Scope and Methodology 39 5.2 Marine and Coastal Processes 40 5.2.1 Introduction 40 5.2.2 Current Knowledge 40 5.2.3 Potential Effects 40 5.2.3.1 EIA Surveys 40 5.2.3.2 Geotechnical Survey and Construction 41 5.2.3.3 Operation 41 5.2.3.4 Decommissioning 41 5.2.4 Scope and Methodology – Marine and Coastal Processes 41 5.2.4.1 Geophysical Survey 41 5.2.4.2 Metocean Data 41 5.2.4.3 Sediment Processes 41 ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT 5.2.4.4 Mathematical Modelling 42 5.3 Contamination and Water Quality 43 5.3.1 Introduction 43 5.3.2 Current Knowledge 43 5.3.2.1 Bathing and Shellfish Waters Directive 43 5.3.2.2 Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive 43 5.3.2.3 London Convention 43 5.3.2.4 Food and Environment Protection Act 44 5.3.3 Potential Effects 44 5.3.3.1 Geotechnical Survey and Installation 44 5.3.3.2 Operation 45 5.3.3.3 Decommissioning 46 5.3.4 Scope and Methodology - Contamination and Water Quality 46 6.0 Scope of Work – Biological Environment 47 6.1 Protected Sites and Species 47 6.1.1 Offshore 47 6.1.2 Nearshore/Onshore 48 6.1.3 Current Knowledge 53 6.1.4 Potential Effects 54 6.1.4.1 Offshore 54 6.1.4.2 Nearshore/Onshore 54 6.2 Benthic, Intertidal and Terrestrial Ecology 55 6.2.1 Introduction 55 6.2.2 Current Knowledge 55 6.2.2.1 Background Research – Benthic Environment 55 6.2.2.2 Field Research - Benthic Environment 56 6.2.2.3 Current Knowledge – Intertidal Environment 57 6.2.2.4 Current Knowledge – Terrestrial Environment 57 6.2.3 Potential Effects 57 6.2.3.1 Benthic Communities 57 6.2.3.2 Terrestrial Ecology 60 6.2.4 Scope and Methodology - Benthic and Terrestrial Ecology 60 6.2.4.1 Benthic Ecology 60 6.2.4.2 Nearshore and Shoreline Ecology 62 6.2.4.3 Trenched Cable Route and Control Building Location – Terrestrial Ecology 62 6.3 Fish and Shellfish 64 6.3.1 Introduction 64 6.3.2 Current Knowledge 64 6.3.3 Potential Effects 64 6.3.3.1 Installation of Turbines and Subsea Cables 64 6.3.3.2 Operation 66 ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT 6.3.3.3 Decommissioning 70 6.3.4 Scope and Methodology – Fish and Shellfish 70 6.3.4.1 Desk Based Assessment 70 6.3.4.2 Consultation 71 6.3.4.3 Field Surveys 71 6.4 Birds 72 6.4.1 Introduction 72 6.4.2 Current Knowledge 72 6.4.2.1 Designated Areas and Protected Species 72 6.4.3 Potential Impacts 72 6.4.3.1 Marine Birds 72 6.4.3.2 Onshore Birds 77 6.4.4 Scope and Methodology - Birds 78 6.4.4.1 Marine Birds 78 6.4.4.2 Onshore Birds 78 6.5 Marine Mammals 78 6.5.1 Introduction 78 6.5.2 Current Knowledge 79 6.5.2.1 Pinnepeds 79 6.5.2.2 Cetaceans 80 6.5.2.3 Otters 82 6.5.3 Potential Effects 82 6.5.3.1 Installation 82 6.5.3.2 Operation 85 6.5.3.3 Decommission 92 7.0 Scope of Work – Human Environment 93 7.1 Commercial Fisheries and Mariculture 93 7.1.1 Introduction 93 7.1.2 Current Knowledge 93 7.1.2.1 Commercial Fishing 94 7.1.2.2 Mariculture 95 7.1.3 Potential Effects 95 7.1.3.1 Commercial Fishing - Installation 95 7.1.3.2 Commercial Fishing – Operation 95 7.1.3.3 Commercial Fishing – Decommissioning 96 7.1.3.4 Mariculture 96 7.1.4 Scope and Methodology – Commercial Fisheries and Mariculture 96 7.2 Marine and Coastal Historic Environment 98 7.2.1 Introduction 98 7.2.2 Current Knowledge 98 7.2.2.1 Marine Environment 98 7.2.2.2 Coastal Environment 98 7.2.3 Potential Effects 98 ISLAY TIDAL ENERGY FARM – SCOPING DOCUMENT 7.2.3.1 Marine Environment 98 7.2.3.2 Coastal Environment 99 7.2.4 Scope and Methodology – Marine and Coastal Historic Environment 100 7.2.4.1 Marine Environment 100 7.2.4.2 Coastal Environment 100 7.3 Cables and Pipelines 102 7.3.1 Introduction 102 7.3.2 Current Knowledge 102 7.3.2.1 Kingfisher Cable Awareness Charts (KISCA).
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  • Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects

    Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects

    energies Article Cost Assessment Methodology and Economic Viability of Tidal Energy Projects Eva Segura 1, Rafael Morales 1,* and José A. Somolinos 2 1 Escuela de Ingenieros Industriales de Albacete, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02071 Albacete, Spain; [email protected] 2 Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Navales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +34-967-599-200 (ext. 2542); Fax: +34-967-599-224 Received: 15 September 2017; Accepted: 6 November 2017; Published: 9 November 2017 Abstract: The exploitation of technologies with which to harness the energy from ocean currents will have considerable possibilities in the future thanks to their enormous potential for electricity production and their high predictability. In this respect, the development of methodologies for the economic viability of these technologies is fundamental to the attainment of a consistent quantification of their costs and the discovery of their economic viability, while simultaneously attracting investment in these technologies. This paper presents a methodology with which to determine the economic viability of tidal energy projects, which includes a technical study of the life-cycle costs into which the development of a tidal farm can be decomposed: concept and definition, design and development, manufacturing, installation, operation and maintenance and dismantling. These cost structures are additionally subdivided by considering their sub-costs and bearing in mind the main components of the tidal farm: the nacelle, the supporting tidal energy converter structure and the export power system. Furthermore, a technical study is developed in order to obtain an estimation of the annual energy produced (and, consequently, the incomes generated if the electric tariff is known) by considering its principal attributes: the characteristics of the current, the ability of the device to capture energy and its ability to convert and export the energy.