The North Wales Wind Farms Connection Project Strategic Options Report Application reference: EN020014 March 2015 Regulation reference: The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Regulation 5(2)(q) Document reference 7.3 The Planning Act 2008 The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Regulation 5(2)(q) The North Wales Wind Farms Connection Project Strategic Options Report Document Reference No. 7.3 Regulation No. Regulation 5(2)(q) Author SP Manweb Date March 2015 Version V1 Planning Inspectorate Reference EN020014 No. SP Manweb plc, Registered Office: 3 Prenton Way Prenton CH43 3ET. Registered in England No. 02366937 SUMMARY The North Wales Wind Farms Connection Project is a major electrical infrastructure development project, involving several wind farm developers and the local Distribution Network Operator – SP Manweb plc (SP Manweb). The development of on-shore wind generation in Wales is guided by the Welsh Government’s energy strategy, initially published in 2003. In their Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8: renewable energy (2005) the Welsh Government identified 7 Strategic Search Areas (SSAs) as potential locations for wind generation, of which area A is in North Wales. During the past 20 years, approximately 220 MW of wind generation (both onshore and offshore) have been connected to the SP Manweb distribution network in North Wales. Within the TAN 8 SSA A, SP Manweb is currently contracted to connect a further four wind farms[1] which have received planning consent and total 170 MW of generation. SP Manweb has a statutory duty to offer terms to connect new generating stations to its distribution system. The options presented in this Report address those connection offers. The wind farms vary in size from approximately 22 MW up to 80 MW and are dispersed over a fairly wide area, so to collect electricity from the wind farms and transport it to the transmission system requires a combination of 33 kV and 132 kV connections. New 33 kV circuits have a typical maximum capability of about 25 MVA2 (depending on length), whereas single circuit 132 kV wood pole line capacities range from 89 MVA to 176 MVA in capacity. Single circuit 132 kV steel tower lines can transport up to 245 MVA, whilst double circuit 132 kV steel tower lines can transport up to 490 MVA. The Report back-checks and reviews several connection options, at both 33 kV and 132 kV, to the existing network infrastructure. It updates the first Strategic Options Report dated May 2013 and concludes that the preferred option is for a 132 kV circuit to be constructed from SSA A northwards to the St Asaph BSP substation (Option SA). 1 Clocaenog Forest (80 MW), Llyn Brenig (45 MW), Nant Bach (22 MW) and Derwydd Bach (23 MW) 2 Older circuits can be typically assumed to be rated at 20MVA This option is technically capable of accommodating all the contracted generation and has the shortest 132 kV connection of all the technically viable options that do not require any development at 400 kV. Shorter options are generally preferred on the basis of minimising both impacts and costs, unless a longer alternative offers sufficiently reduced environmental impact compared with the shorter route. CONTENTS PAGE No. GLOSSARY 1 INTRODUCTION 12 BACKGROUND 13 NEED 17 DESIGN PROCESS 23 BUSINESS PROCESS 30 OPTIONS IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION 31 CONCLUSIONS 39 ABBREVIATIONS 41 Appendices Appendix A – Options Evaluation GLOSSARY 132kV Overhead 132,000 volts overhead line from the Collector Substation to the Line Terminal Point Above Ordnance Elevation of land above sea level (at Newlyn) Datum (AOD) Agricultural Land The classification system used by the Department for Classification Environment Food and Rural Affairs based on its quality and (ALC) versatility. The classification ranges from Grade 1 (the best and most versatile) through Grades 2, 3a, 3b, 3 c and 4, down to Grade 5 (least versatile) Agri-environment A UK government undertaking in which farmers are paid to farm scheme / in an environmentally sensitive way agreement Alluvium Material transported by rivers and deposited along its course Air Quality Declared by local authorities for areas where objectives specified Management Area in the national Air Quality Strategy are not predicted to be met (AQMA) Air Quality Action Produced by local authorities for AQMAs, setting out measures to Plan (AQAP) improve air quality Ancient Semi- Woodland composed of native tree species that have not Natural Woodland obviously been planted (ASNW) Aquifer A body of permeable rock that is capable of storing significant quantities of water; is undertaken by impermeable material, and through which groundwater moves Area of Non statutory designation to categorise sensitive landscapes - Outstanding designated by Denbighshire County Council Beauty (AOB) Area of An area designated under the National Parks and Access to Outstanding Countryside Act 1949 for its particularly attractive landscape and Natural Beauty unspoilt character, which should be protected and enhanced as (AONB) part of the national heritage Area of Search The term given to a wide area within which the route corridors are identified and for the purposes of the Proposed Development is shown on the Location Plan (document reference 2.1) Assessment of the A method of assessment of the effect of a development on Significance of Historic Landscapes Impacts of Development on Historic Landscape areas (ASIDOHL) Associated Development which is associated with a Nationally Significant Development Infrastructure Project as defined by the Planning Act 2008 Authority The Gas and Electricity Markets Authority established under Section 1 of the Utilities Act 2000 1 Baseline Existing environmental conditions which are described in the ES Best and most Defined by the ALC as Grades 1, 2 and 3a. Provisional versatile (BMV) reclassification has removed sub-classifications within Grade 3, considering Grades 1 and 2 as ‘Best and Most Versatile’ (BMV) land Biodiversity The variety and abundance of species, their genetic composition, and the natural communities, ecosystems, and landscapes in which they occur Biodiversity Action A strategy for conserving and enhancing wild species and wildlife Plan (BAP) habitats in the UK. Now replaced by Country Biodiversity Strategies British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Broad Route Initial strategic corridors identified for the Proposed Development Corridor(s) and shown on Figure 3.1 in the ES (document reference 6.16) Cable An insulated conductor designed for laying underground Cadw The historic environment service of the Welsh Government Collector The new collector substation which will be located in the Substation Clocaenog Forest and will connect the wind farms into the electricity distribution network Conductor Overhead wire(s) attached to wood poles which conduct electricity Connection and Defined within Transmission Licence Standard Conditions. use of system code Condition C1 and C10 states the meaning of the Connection (CUSC) and Use of System Code (CUSC) as: The licensee shall establish arrangements for connection and use of system in respect of matters which, other than those to which standard conditions C14 (Grid Code) and C5 (Use of system charging methodology) to C9 (Functions of the Authority) relate are calculated to facilitate the achievement of the following objectives: (a) the efficient discharge by the licensee of the obligations imposed upon it under the Act and by this licence; (b) facilitating effective competition in the generation and supply of electricity, and (so far as consistent therewith) facilitating such competition in the sale, distribution and purchase of electricity; and (c) compliance with the Electricity Regulation and any relevant legally binding decision of the European Commission and/or the Agency Conservation Area Designated by local authorities on account of their special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is intended to preserve and enhance Construction Sets out management measures required of contractors for any Environmental construction works associated with the Proposed Development Management Plan 2 (CEMP) Construction phase Is when preparatory works or construction works are taking place until commissioning of the Proposed Development Consultation 100m wide corridor(s) within which 132 kV Overhead Line could Corridors be constructed and which were the subject of pre-application consultation pursuant to the Planning Act 2008 Consultation zone For the purpose of the pre application consultation pursuant to the Planning Act 2008 a broad geographic consultation zone was defined and is shown in Appendix 7.1 of the Consultation Report (document reference 5.2.1) Countryside and Act, dated 2000, which provides for public access on foot to Rights of Way Act certain types of land (CROW) Cumulative Effects The effects of other development schemes (whether under construction, consented, or there are firm proposals for) assessed cumulatively with the Proposed Development and the Wider Scheme. These effects can be temporal (e.g. construction phases occur at the same time) or spatial (e.g. the same area is affected) Decibel (dB) The scale on which sound pressure level is expressed. It is defined as 20 times the logarithm of the ratio between the root- mean-square pressure of the sound field and a reference pressure (2x10-5Pa) Decommissioning The final phase of the Proposed Development covering all phase