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Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan (OREAP)

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Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan (OREAP) Environ ment Onshore Renewable Electricity Action September 2011 Plan: Strategic Environmental Assessment Northern Ireland Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan (OREAP) Environmental Report October 2011 Northern Ireland Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan (OREAP) Rev No Comments Checked by Approved Date by 1 First draft for comment from Steering Group SE IAB July 2011 2 Second Draft incorporating responses to comments from Steering MM/SC IAB Sept 2011 Group 3 Final MM/SC IAB Oct 2011 This document is confidential and the copyright of AECOM Limited. Any unauthorised reproduction or usage by any person other than the addressee is strictly prohibited. Table of Contents Glossary SECTION A: SEA CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 The Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan ............................................................................................... 1 1.3 Strategic Environmental Assessment ............................................................................................................... 2 1.4 SEA Scoping................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Purpose and Structure of this Environmental Report......................................................................................... 5 1.6 Consultation on this Environmental Report ....................................................................................................... 6 2 The Northern Ireland Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan ........................................................................... 7 2.1 Purpose and Objectives of the Northern Ireland Onshore Renewable Electricity Action Plan .............................. 7 2.2 Aim of the OREAP .......................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Background to the OREAP .............................................................................................................................. 8 3 Policy Context .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 10 4 Baseline ................................................................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 19 5 SEA Approach and Method...................................................................................................................................... 20 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 20 5.2 Stage A Summary - Scoping .......................................................................................................................... 20 5.3 Stage B Summary - Developing and Refining Alternatives, Assessing Effects ................................................. 22 5.3 Assessment of Alternatives .......................................................................................................................... 23 5.4 Assessment Method ...................................................................................................................................... 25 5.5 Environmental Report (Stage C) and Consultation (Stage D) .......................................................................... 29 5.6 Uncertainty and Limitations of the Assessment............................................................................................... 30 5.7 Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) ......................................................................................................... 30 6 Renewable Electricity Generation Technologies..................................................................................................... 31 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 31 6.2 Onshore Wind ............................................................................................................................................... 31 6.3 Biomass........................................................................................................................................................ 32 6.4 Other Onshore Renewable Electricity Generation ........................................................................................... 36 6.5 Related Infrastructure – Grid .......................................................................................................................... 39 6.6 Related Infrastructure – Offshore Generation ................................................................................................. 41 SECTION B: ASSESSMENT & MITIGATION .................................................................................................................... 42 7 Generic Assessment ................................................................................................................................................ 43 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 43 7.2 Generic Effects: Onshore Wind ...................................................................................................................... 43 7.3 Generic Effects: Biomass .............................................................................................................................. 55 7.4 Generic Effects: Other Renewable Energy Developments .............................................................................. 68 7.5 Generic Effects: Grid upgrades/reinforcements and associated infrastructure .................................................. 87 8 Cumulative Assessment: Testing Generation Scenarios ........................................................................................ 95 8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 95 8.2 Energy Demand, Required Installed Capacity and Renewable Energy Targets in Northern Ireland .................. 95 8.3 Onshore Renewable Energy Generation Scenarios ........................................................................................ 95 8.4 Electricity Grid Network ................................................................................................................................. 98 8.5 Focus and Limitations of the Cumulative Assessment .................................................................................... 98 8.6 Summary of Conclusions from the Assessment ............................................................................................ 100 8.7 Offshore Renewable Energy and Grid Connections ...................................................................................... 107 9 Conclusions and Mitigation Measures .................................................................................................................. 113 9.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................................ 113 9.2 Mitigation .................................................................................................................................................... 115 10 Monitoring .............................................................................................................................................................. 129 10.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 129 10.2 Purpose of the Monitoring Framework .......................................................................................................... 129 10.3 Monitoring the SEA and OREAP .................................................................................................................. 129 10.4 Direct Monitoring of Plan Level Mitigation Measures (Actions) ...................................................................... 130 10.1 Monitoring Environmental Receptors............................................................................................................ 131 11 References ............................................................................................................................................................. 133 Appendix A: Policy
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