ECOCAS Wind Farm

Home , Penstrowed

ECOCAS Wind Farm

(Esgair Cwmowen Central and South)

Volume 1

Non-Technical Summary

Independent Power Systems Limited (IPS)

Canada House, 272 Field End Road, Eastcote, Ruislip HA4 9NA

October 2009

ECOCAS Wind Farm

October 2009

Prepared for:

Mr John Eurfyl Roberts-Watkins Mr John Edward Jones

Craigfryn Tanffridd Newtown Penstrowed Powys Newtown SY17 5JY Powys SY16 4JY

The contents and methodologies used in this Volume, prepared for our clients Messrs Eurfyl Watkins and John Jones as per the Agreement between us, are subject to copyright owned by IPS (© Independent Power Systems Limited 2009) and this Volume may not be copied or used without our prior written consent other than when used for the purposes for which it was prepared. Independent Power Systems Limited accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for or in respect of any use of or reliance upon this Volume by any third party. Introduction Independent Power Systems Ltd (IPS) has IPS have produced an Environmental applied for planning permission on behalf of Statement to report the findings of the Greenspan Renewables Limited, a company assessments carried out to support the controlled by Messrs Eurfyl Watkins and application of the ECOCAS Wind Farm. A John Jones, for a 17 wind turbine wind farm summary of these are detailed in this non- to be known as ECOCAS (Esgair Cwmowen technical summary. Central and South) on land at Esgair Cwmowen, three miles north east of the Climate Change village of Carno, five miles from the town of There is evidence that global warming and Newtown, Mid Wales (see Figure 1). The climate change is a real problem and has intention of the two sponsors, both local the potential to cause effects on sea levels. farmers, is to provide renewable energy for One of the main causes of global warming is use through the National Grid. The two the increased burning of fossil fuels such as project sponsors are wholly independent of oil, gas and coal. There is a need for a any organisation or company, making the clean alternative source of energy not just project a totally locally funded planning because of the climate but also to help application for a wind farm development. reduce carbon levels and to provide a No external funds have been sought or used sustainable energy supply that is continuous by the sponsors in the development of their and secure for the future. proposals. Both of them have spent all of The Stern Review: The Economics of their lives in and around Newtown and Climate Change (2006) suggests that early Carno and, with their families, farm the hills investment in energy efficiency and carbon- above Carno, mainly sheep rearing, with free forms of energy generation will be of some supporting livestock together with significant financial benefit if the full cost of growing and harvesting crops for animal climate change is to be avoided. The feed. suggested solution to tackling climate Consultation with the Department of Energy change is a mixture of a reduction in energy and Climate Change (DECC) confirmed that consumption combined with a significant the development would be subject to a switch from a carbon-based economy to a formal Environmental Impact Assessment more sustainable economy based on under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. renewable energy.

Figure 1. ECOCAS Wind Farm Location

Renewable Energy installed capacity from onshore wind There are many types of renewable energy resources, and 200 MW of additional including solar, tidal, bio-gas and wind. The capacity from offshore and other UK Government is committed to developing renewables. these renewable energies and in particular To meet these targets for onshore wind wind which will be important for reaching power, wind developments have been targets of an 80% cut in greenhouse gas concentrated in specific areas defined as emissions by 2050, and at least a 34% cut Strategic Search Areas (SSAs). There has by 2020, based on the 1990 baseline. The been much extensive technical work Welsh Assembly Government has a target of commissioned by the Welsh Assembly 4 Terawatt hours of electricity to be Government which has led to the conclusion generated from renewable sources by 2010. that developments should be actively This will require 800 MW of additional steered by the land use planning systems to

2 those areas deemed to be the most maximum hub height of 80 m and a appropriate for large scale (over 25 MW) maximum blade radius of 45 m, giving an developments. These areas are set out in overall maximum height to the blade tip of Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN 8) Renewable 125 m. With each wind turbine being Energy. The SSA B, Carno North, which the capable of electrical generation of up to a ECOCAS Wind Farm lies within, has a maximum of 3 MW, the total output from capacity of 290 MW by 2010 and is one of the wind farm will be up to 51 MW, the largest SSAs in Wales. For the Welsh depending on the prevailing wind Assembly Government’s targets to be met conditions. The design and layout of the and to move to a more renewable energy ECOCAS Wind Farm has been carried out to source, developments such as the ECOCAS achieve the optimal configuration of the Wind Farm are essential for the future. turbines whilst taking into account the surrounding environmental features, ECOCAS Wind Farm resulting in a controlled and balanced The ECOCAS Wind Farm will consist of 17 layout. The site plan can be seen in Figure wind turbines each of 3 MW capacity with a 2.

Figure 2. ECOCAS Wind Farm Layout

Planning Policy turbine equipment in by rail to Carno. The Planning policy in the UK has recently begun discussions and evaluations that took place to approach wind farm applications in a resulted in the rail option being rejected due more positive light with an emphasis on to the track, road and bridge modifications quicker processes towards planning required making this option not feasible. applications. Guidance for planning policy in As a result of the rejection of the rail option, Wales is set out in Planning Policy Wales road delivery was determined as the only (PPW) (2002) which outlines how the Welsh feasible option and detailed evaluation was Assembly Government intends to undertaken comprised of three studies: “encourage the development of the renewables sector and promote energy  Port of delivery (Ellsmere Port or efficiency and conservation in an economic, Newport Docks) to Carno (including environmentally sound and socially alternative routes and pinch point acceptable way”. PPW also encourages the analysis) generation and use of energy from  Carno to Site (including options and renewable sources, especially as a means of pinch point analysis) reducing the effects of climate change.  Mitigation of traffic flow (laybys and The ECOCAS Wind Farm has followed local passing places) and national guidance during the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Three routes to site were evaluated and process and these policies are detailed route 1, which is considered to be the most further in a separate Planning, Design and suitable to carry both the blades and the Access Statement. nacelle, was agreed as being the ‘preferred route’. There is also a possibility of Site Access and Transport delivering the blades via route 2 while the The construction delivery route options for nacelle is transported along route 1 which the ECOCAS development were determined may ease traffic flows. by detailed map evaluation and route The effects on traffic movement during inspections. The initial appraisals embraced construction of the development have also every possible entry to the proposed Site, been assessed. including the possibility of bringing all wind

Ecology Bats Surveys undertaken on the site resulted in The proposed ECOCAS Wind Farm may have no rare or scarce plants, or plant species a negative impact upon bats through the noted as priority species in the Powys or UK following: Biodiversity Action Plans, being found on the  Loss of habitat during construction of Site. the turbines Following the assessment it was considered  The presence of rotating turbine that there will be a minimal impact on the blades could disrupt bat flight and habitat and that the ECOCAS development cause injury to the bats provides an acceptable level of mitigation to  By indirect impact through protect important areas of habitat. ultrasound emissions, altered air The Site does offer some suitable foraging pressures and/or air flows in the and lying-up sites for brown hare in vicinity of the turbines particular and are expected to still use the Site for breeding. The extent of permanent Surveys on the Site determined that the bat habitat loss due to the proposed species foraging on the Site appear to be development would be limited to the bases the smaller more agile species, which are of the turbines, access tracks and other likely to forage closer to the ground, that is infrastructure, which would be unlikely to below 5 m. During construction there will have an impact on the density or be some disturbance due to habitat loss distribution of hares in the future. although the negative impact on those A precautionary approach has been species foraging on the Site is deemed to be recommended when carrying out site works low. Noctule bats were also recorded to ensure that all species are conserved. commuting across the Site, and were Following the assessment it was considered regularly recorded using the valley on the that the ECOCAS Wind Farm will have a eastern edge of the Site in the vicinity of minimal impact on mammals and reptiles. proposed turbine 16. These bats fly and forage at heights of greater than 10 m, and therefore the proposed turbines may disrupt their flight paths or commuting routes. The larger Nyctalus and Eptesicus species can

5 commute long distances between summer is difficult to assess the extent of use in the and hibernation roosts, which could have an area. effect on the population if the Wind Farm Site is on a traditional migratory route. Birds Since these bats forage over a wide area, The ECOCAS Site was surveyed during 2007 displacement would have a minor negative and 2009 to assess the impact of the impact on those individuals resident near proposed ECOCAS Wind Farm on birds flying the Site. over and breeding on the Site. According to the results, birds appeared to be randomly Cumulative Impacts on Bats distributed over the Site, with no obvious At the time of the assessment, four regular flight lines noted. Vantage point proposed and four operational wind farms surveys, along with records of over flying were identified. Many of the operational birds noted during the walk through wind farms did not appear to have surveys, indicated fairly low levels of aerial conducted any bat surveys prior to activity by birds considered to be vulnerable. construction because the effect of wind Therefore, the ECOCAS Wind Farm will not farms on bats was not fully understood. have a significant impact on birds flying The surveys undertaken at ECOCAS across the site. For birds breeding on the identified at least four species of bats not Site the majority of species identified are recorded by other consultancies. The unlikely to be impacted on by the ECOCAS majority of these calls were identified on the Wind Farm. The Site does have high Anabat static recorders not used at any potential for two nationally important other site. These static recorders also species, Nightjar and Merlin. Targeted picked up much higher levels of activity than surveys in 2007 found no evidence of were picked up by the transect surveys. Nightjar, however during a bat survey on The boundaries of the sites provide much the eastern edge of the Site a nightjar was better foraging and roosting opportunities observed. Nightjar has not been shown to than the exposed uplands. The most risk is be breeding on Site, although suitable for high flying bats such as noctule, but as habitat is present. Potentially Nightjar could these were not recorded in other surveys it be at risk from collision with the turbine

6 blades, although given the location of the approximately one bird killed every 3 years turbines in relation to the suitable habitat, at 98% avoidance or every 6 years at 99% this is considered to have a negligible avoidance. A similar figure can be assumed impact. During the targeted surveys in for ECOCAS (due to its location and 2007 for Merlin no evidence was observed. similarity of size) therefore, it can be However, during the April 2009 surveys one estimated that one bird will be killed each male Merlin was observed. This was the year at 98% avoidance or every two years only bird observed and no plucking posts or at 99% avoidance, across the three wind evidence of nesting was found. Since Merlin farms. At this level of mortality the collision have large ranges and fly up to 9 km from rate in the wider 20 km area can be the nest it is more likely that the species is estimated at 3.6 birds per year. Nightjars not breeding on the Site and therefore the were not recorded at any other wind farm ECOCAS Wind Farm would have a limited site, although specific surveys were not impact. Following the assessments it was undertaken and they could be present but considered that there would be a minimal not recorded. A cumulative assessment impact on the bird species and that the could not be undertaken due to the lack of ECOCAS development provides an information from other sites. acceptable level of mitigation to protect The issue of displacement or disturbance to those bird species breeding on the Site and bird species appears to have not been flying across it. addressed at other sites due to the abundance of similar habitat locally. Cumulative Impact on Birds However, given the number of wind farms At the time of this assessment eight operational or proposed within 5 km of proposed/operational wind farms within a ECOCAS, there may be insufficient habitat of 20 km radius of the ECOCAS Site were suitable quality to avoid an impact to some identified. The older wind farms do not of the bird species. appear to have carried out any baseline surveys for birds prior to construction. A Hydrology collision risk model for Red Kites was run at Studies were undertaken on the Site to Mynydd Clogau and Tirgwynt and returned determine the potential effects of the similar results at both sites with proposed Wind Farm on surface waters,

7 groundwater, drainage, areas of peat, main risk to the Site is from surface runoff private water abstractions and flood risk. A which is likely to increase as a result of the site visit was carried out on the 20th January additional hard standing areas and also from 2009 which was attended by representatives increases in future rates of rainfall due to of the Environment Agency (EA), climate change. Mitigation and Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) and management of surface runoff will be Powys County Council (PCC). The areas on achieved through the inclusion of the Site proposed for water crossings were sustainable drainage systems which will limit inspected and advice was given on best the discharge of water and sediment across practice by the EA. It was determined that and from the Site. 20 m buffer zones around every watercourse on the Site should be adhered Landscape and Visual to and that areas of sensitive peat should be Assessments have been carried out to avoided where possible. An additional identify the impact of the Wind Farm on the survey was carried in February 2009 under landscape and views around the Site. The the advice of the EA and CCW to determine study area has been set to just over 30 km the extent of blanket bog on Site using covering a wide variety of landscapes and canes to measure the peat depth at site view points. In total, 17 viewpoints were specific locations, particularly concentrating carefully identified to portray the Wind Farm on the most sensitive areas on the Site. as it would be seen at specific locations. The assessments carried out identified the Within the immediate area the Wind Farm potential receptors within and around the will be visible although the hills and Site as well as activities that will need to be vegetation will screen some of it from view controlled to avoid potential negative effects during the year. Further afield the Wind on the water environment. Construction will Farm is barely noticeable due to the large need to be sensitive to the hydrological distance between the viewpoints and the environment, therefore it may be preferable Wind Farm. to use floating roads rather than excavated There are a number of proposed and built roads and natural drainage paths should be Wind Farms in the area and consideration facilitated wherever possible to avoid the has been given to these in the cumulative cutting off or drying of areas of peat. The assessment.

Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Trade and Industry (1996)’, Simplified A comprehensive Report (Base Report), an Assessment Method (Section 6) would be Assessment of Significance of Impact of satisfactory. The results from the Development on Historic Landscapes assessment at the ECOCAS Wind Farm (ASIDOHL2) and an assessment of visual confirm that at the potentially affected impact on the Historic Landscape (HLVA) receptors the noise levels are within the was carried out at the ECOCAS Site. accepted range. The Base Report located a number of archaeological features although relatively Other few of these are close to the proposed The Ministry of Defence and other turbine locations. Therefore, where the consultees have not raised any objections to proposed turbine locations are close to the proposed development. archaeological features, and if movement of Consultation with Ofcom also resulted in no specific turbines should not prove possible, objections to the proposed development as then further archaeological recording work there are no communication links within the prior to construction will be required. vicinity that may potentially have been The results of the assessments confirm that affected by the turbines. the significance of the impact on the The responses from consultation and the registered Historic Landscape as a whole is assessments carried out all indicate that the considered to be slight and this is also ECOCAS Wind Farm will have no impacts on supported by the staged ASIDOHL2 aircraft radar, telecommunications, or assessment. television reception. An assessment of the shadow flicker effect Noise at potentially affected locations around the A noise assessment was carried out on the Site confirmed that there would not be a Site following guidance from Paul Bufton at significant impact. Powys County Council who agreed that based on indicative results that an Conclusion assessment in line with the ETSU-R-97 The non-technical summary outlines all of Guidance ‘The Assessment and Rating of the findings from the Environmental Impact Noise from Wind Farms, Department of Assessment process for the proposed

ECOCAS Wind Farm. More in-depth details Copies of the full Environmental Statement on the project can be found in the and Appendices can be purchased for £30 accompanying Environmental Statement and for the DVD or £400 for a hard copy from: Appendices. Independent Power Systems Ltd, Canada Although the project is likely to have some House, 272 Field End Road, Eastcote, impacts on the environment these have Ruislip, HA4 9NA. been addressed and mitigation measures proposed. The impact of the ECOCAS Wind A copy of the Non-Technical Summary can Farm on the surrounding environment has also be downloaded free of charge from the been shown not to be significant and Independent Power Systems website: therefore it is considered to be an www.independent-power.co.uk/ecocas/ appropriate onshore wind development. Copies of the full Environmental Statement and accompanying Appendices have been distributed to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and other key consultees. Copies are available at the following locations for public inspection:

Powys County Council Planning Office, Neuadd Maldwyn, Severn Road, Welshpool, SY21 7AS.

Powys County Council Planning Office, The Gwalia, Ithon Road, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 6AA.

Newtown Library, Park Lane, Newtown, Powys, SY16 1EJ.