Non-Technical Summary
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Appendix 7.6 Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) Non-Technical Summary Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Preliminary Environmental Information Report Non-Technical Summary July 2013 www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com This document The tidal lagoon will generate renewable energy in the form of electricity using the large tidal range (the difference This document relates to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon between high and low water) which is a distinguishing energy project (the Project). It is the Non-Technical Summary feature of the Bay. The lagoon will have a rated capacity (NTS) of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report of 240 Megawatts (MW), generating 400GWh net annual (PEIR). The PEIR has been prepared by Tidal Lagoon output. This is enough electricity for approximately 121,000 Swansea Bay plc (TLSB) to provide information about homes: more than Swansea’s annual domestic electricity the Project as part of the pre-application process for a use (109k households); c.70% of Swansea Bay’s annual Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning domestic electricity use (Swansea, Neath & Port Talbot, 173k Act 2008. The PEIR reports on environmental information households); or c.9% of Wales’ annual domestic electricity captured at this stage as part of the Project’s Environmental use (based on 1,369k households). Impact Assessment (EIA), which will assess Tidalthe potential Lagoon Swansea Bay plc effects of the Project on the local and wider environment. This document In addition to generating electricity, the Project also aims The full findings of the EIA, including measures to reduce to provide visitor facilities and other amenities including art, This document relates to the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon energy project (Project). It is the Non‐Technical Summary effects or provide benefits, will be presented in an education, mariculture and sporting/recreational facilities. (NTS) of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR). The PEIR has been prepared by Tidal Lagoon Environmental Statement (ES) which will be submitted with The seawall is expected to be open to the public during Swansea Bay plc (TLSB) to provide information about the Project as part of the pre‐application process for a the application for a DCO to authorise construction and daylight hours for walking, running, cycling etc, though development consent order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008. The PEIR reports on environmental information operation of the Project (further details on the application access will be controlled in extreme weather. capturedand consenting at this process stage as are part provided of the below). Project’s environmental impact assessment (EIA), which will assess the potential effects of the Project on the local and wider environment. TheThe Projectfull findings is entirely of the privately EIA, including funded. The measures development to reduce effects or provide benefits, will be presented in an Environmentalphase is Statementfunded by private (ES) which individuals will beand submitted green with the applicationIntroduction for a DCO to to the authorise Project construction and operationentrepreneurs, of the Project as well (further as a public details share on offerthe heldapplication in June and consentingTLSB is proposing process to are construct provided and below). operate a tidal energy 2013. The construction phase will be funded by major lagoon, located in Swansea Bay, South Wales (Figure 1). institutional investors and a further public share offer. Figure 1: Location of proposed tidal lagoon Figure 1: Location of proposed tidal lagoon Introduction to the Project TLSB is proposing to construct and operate a tidal energy lagoon, located in Swansea Bay, South Wales (Figure 1). The tidal lagoon will generate renewable energy in the form of electricity using the large tidal range (the difference between high and low water) which is a distinguishing feature of the Bay. The lagoon will have a rated capacity of 240 Megawatts (MW), generating 400GWh net annual output. This is enough electricity for approximately 121,000 homes: more than Swansea’s annual domestic electricity use (109k households); c.70% of Swansea Bay’s annual domestic electricity use (Swansea, Neath & Port Talbot, 173k households); or c.9% of Wales’ annual domestic electricity use (based on 1,369k households). In addition to generating electricity, the Project also aims to provide visitor facilities and other amenities including art, education, mariculture and sporting/recreational facilities. The seawall is expected to be open to the public during daylight hours for walking, running, cycling etc, though access will be controlled in extreme weather. The Project is entirely privately funded. The development phase is funded by private individuals and green entrepreneurs, as well as a public share offer held in June 2013. The construction phase will be funded by major institutional investors and a further public share offer. Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay – Preliminary Environmental Information Non‐Technical Summary Page 1‐ 1 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Table 1: Summary schedule of consents Group of Description Consenting process works Offshore The turbines, with their housing and other facilities such as generators These works will be authorised by the Works and switchgear; seawall enclosing the new lagoon; provision for roll-on/ DCO and, to the extent they are marine roll-off ferry berthing facility; integral visitor centre, leisure facilities and works, will require a marine licence. public realm; emergency and operational facilities; dredging works; The consent would include powers to works to Swansea Port Channel; works to Neath Harbour Channel; construct temporary works such as works to existing long sea outfall; navigation facilities; ecological cofferdams or lighting. enhancement and mitigation; and navigational/lighting works. Grid The cable works embedded in the seawall; cable from the landfall of These works will be authorised by the Connection the Offshore Works to the existing Baglan substation in Neath Port DCO. The cable crossing of the River Neath Works Talbot; and a cable crossing of the River Neath by direct drilling (going will require a marine licence. underneath the river). Onshore Provision of a temporary working area, access routes and road These parts of the Project will be Works accesses for construction of the Project; decontamination works; authorised by the DCO. operation and maintenance (O&M) facilities, with slipways; vehicle parking and manoeuvring areas; onshore visitor and recreational facilities; and right-of-way and seashore works/mitigation within the lagoon including treatment of storm water and interfaces with Crymlyn Burrows SSSI. Access Works Provision of access to the Project including necessary demolitions; These parts of the Project will be authorised swing bridge(s); cycle routes; highway improvements; and other by the DCO, but may also be the subject works. of applications to local planning authorities under the TCPA 1990. Consenting process U-shaped seawall (Figure 1) running from Swansea Port out to sea before curving back to re-join land adjacent to Swansea University’s As the Project is an offshore electricity generating new Science and Innovation Campus (SAIC). Access to the Project, and station of more than 100MW, it is considered to be a supporting onshore facilities at these two (Swansea Port and Campus) Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) under landfalls, will be from Fabian Way. the Planning Act 2008. Construction of such a project The seawall will have a sediment core held in place by a casing of requires that a DCO is first granted by the Secretary of sediment-filled geotextile tubes, known as Geotubes®. The outside of State for Energy and Climate Change via an application the structure will be covered in rock armour of various sizes, depending to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) under the 2008 Act. on its level of exposure (Figure 2). The sand used to form the walls will be taken from within the lagoon footprint. Rock armour will then be The Project is located in Welsh coastal waters and brought in by sea to provide protection. The top of the seawall will have therefore it also requires a marine license to be granted an access road which will be used for operation and maintenance of the via an application to the Marine Licensing Team of lagoon as well as for visitors. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) on behalf of the Welsh Government. Additional consents may also be required from the local planning authorities – City & County of Swansea Council (CCSC) or Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) – for elements of the Project which sit outside the NSIP and DCO. Table 1, above, summarises the components and consenting requirements of the Project. Overview of the Project In order to control the flow of seawater to generate electricity, Figure 2: Example cross-section the Tidal Lagoon will be built by forming a 9.5km-long, through lagoon seawall www.tidallagoonswanseabay.com Turbine House Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay plc level, water is prevented from entering the lagoon for an average of 2 Figure 2: Example cross‐section through lagoon seawall hours 5 minutes, and this creates a difference in water levels known as In the south‐western part of the seawall there will be ‘head’.a turbine/sluice Once sufficient gate headhousing has beenstructure reached, (Figure the water 1). Theis allowed housing to flow into the lagoon through the turbines, turning the runner (like a structure will contain between 16 and 22 hydro (water) turbines, which will be permanently underwater (Figure 3). propeller) and generating electricity. This process is repeated on the These turbines (which will be 7m‐8m in diameter) will generateebb tide, where electricity the water on bothis prevented the flood from (in leaving‐coming) the lagoon and ebb until (out ‐ going) tides. There will also be around 10 sluice gates –there these is sufficientare large headgates to whichstart the will process be underwater again (Figure and 4). able to let seawater in and out of the lagoon without going through the turbines, as required. Towards the end of the ebb or flood tide the sluice gates will be opened.