Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited TRITON KNOLL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Environmental Statement Volume 1 Chapter 1: Introduction April 2015, Revision A Document Reference: 6.2.1.1 Pursuant to: APFP Reg. 5(2)(a) Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Triton Knoll Electrical System Environmental Statement - Volume 1 Copyright © 2015 Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited All pre-existing rights reserved. Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited Triton Knoll Electrical System Liability In preparation of this document Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited (TKOWFL), a joint venture between RWE Environmental Statement Innogy UK (RWE) and Statkraft UK, subconsultants working on behalf of TKOWFL have made reasonable efforts to Volume 1: Chapter 1 – Introduction ensure that the content is accurate, up to date and complete for the purpose for which it was prepared. Neither TKOWFL nor their subcontractors make any warranty as to the April 2015 accuracy or completeness of material supplied. Other than any liability on TKOWFL or their subcontractors detailed in the contracts between the parties for this work neither TKOWFL or their subcontractors shall have any liability for any loss, damage, injury, claim, expense, cost or other Drafted By: GoBe Consultants Ltd consequence arising as a result of use or reliance upon any information contained in or omitted from this document. Approved By: Kim Gauld-Clark Any persons intending to use this document should satisfy themselves as to its applicability for their intended purpose. Date of Approval April 2015 Where appropriate, the user of this document has the Revision A obligation to employ safe working practices for any activities referred to and to adopt specific practices appropriate to local conditions. Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Auckland House Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited have been awarded EU TEN-E funding to support the development of the Triton Great Western Way Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Electrical System located in both Swindon UK Territorial waters and the UK’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Wiltshire, SN5 8ZT The funding which is to be matched will support a number of surveys, engineering reports, and environmental impact T +44 (0)845 720 090 assessment studies for the Triton Knoll Electrical System. The studies will form part of the formal documentation that F +44 (0)845 720 050 will accompany the Development Consent Order which will I www.rweinnogy.com be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate. The sum of €1,159,559 has been granted and the process to reclaim this funding is ongoing. www.rweinnogy.com/tritonknoll [email protected] ii Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Triton Knoll Electrical System Environmental Statement - Volume 1 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1-1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 1-1 The Applicant ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 Project background .............................................................................................................. 1-2 Background to the Environmental Impact Assessment ........................................................ 1-6 Overview of project details ................................................................................................... 1-6 The Environmental Impact Assessment team ...................................................................... 1-7 Consultation and the purpose of the ES .............................................................................. 1-7 Structure of the Environmental Statement ........................................................................... 1-8 Document availability ........................................................................................................... 1-9 References ........................................................................................................................... 1-9 iii Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Triton Knoll Electrical System Environmental Statement - Volume 1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.6 Both partner companies are committed to developing and operating wind farms and hydro plant to generate sustainable electricity and are highly experienced in offshore Overview wind farm development. 1.7 RWE Innogy UK currently operates 19 hydroelectric schemes and 26 offshore and 1.1 Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Limited (TKOWFL) is submitting an application to the onshore wind farms in the UK. In 2004 they completed the construction of the UK’s Planning Inspectorate (PINS), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Energy and first major offshore wind farm, North Hoyle, off the coast of North Wales. Climate Change for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for the Triton Knoll Electrical System (the proposed development) under the Planning Act 2008. The • RWE Innogy UK’s offshore projects include: Triton Knoll Electrical System would connect the consented Triton Knoll Offshore Wind • North Hoyle, North Wales – 30 turbines (60 megawatts (MW) capacity); Farm (TKOWF) array to the National Grid substation at Bicker Fen, to the south-west • Rhyl Flats, North Wales – 25 turbines (90 MW capacity), operational since 2009; of Boston, and would comprise offshore and onshore export cable circuits, landfall infrastructure, an onshore intermediate electrical compound and an onshore • Greater Gabbard, Suffolk – 140 turbines (504 MW capacity), operational since substation. 2012. This is a 50% joint venture with Scottish and Southern Energy; and 1.2 An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken for the proposed • Gwynt y Mór, North Wales – 160 turbines (576 MW capacity), first generation development in accordance with the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact achieved in August 2013 and the wind farm becoming fully operational in early Assessment) Regulations 2009 (the EIA Regulations). This Environmental Statement 2015. (ES) provides the findings of the EIA process for the proposed development. The • Galloper, Suffolk – number of turbines to be determined for up to 350 MW purpose of the ES is to provide a source of information for stakeholders regarding capacity; offshore construction scheduled to start in 2016. potential environmental issues that may result from the development during its construction, operation and decommissioning, as required by the Planning Act 2008, 1.8 Statkraft is a leading company in hydropower internationally and Europe’s largest ensuring the Planning Inspectorate and Secretary of State have sufficient information generator of renewable energy. The Group produces hydropower, wind power, gas on the likely significant effects of the proposed development to inform the decision power and district heating and is a global player in energy market operations. Statkraft making process. has 3,700 employees in more than 20 countries. 1.3 Further detail pertaining to the legislation relevant to the proposed development and 1.9 Since 2006, Statkraft has invested £1.4 billion in the UK's renewable energy the EIA is presented in Volume 1: Chapter 2; Consents, Policy and Legislation. infrastructure and provided 2.5 GW of renewable energy Power Purchase Agreements (PPA's). Statkraft’s renewable energy generation assets have a capacity of 900 MW The Applicant and the company is the majority owner and operator of three onshore wind farms, a major shareholder in two offshore wind farms, and owns and operates the largest 1.4 TOWFL is a joint venture between two leading international energy companies; RWE hydropower plant in England and Wales. Innogy UK Ltd and Statkraft UK. RWE Innogy UK Ltd is the UK subsidiary of the 1.10 Statkraft entered the offshore wind sector in 2009, and has since been working German renewable energy company RWE Innogy (part of RWE AG), a company with towards implementing its strategy to become a lead developer in all phases of the a strong and diversified position in renewable energy development. Statkraft UK is a project life cycle. In 2014 Statkraft took over O&M responsibility for the 317MW subsidiary of Statkraft Group, Europe’s largest generator of renewable energy and is Sheringham Shoal offshore wind-farm. In July 2014 Statkraft, in partnership with the leading power company in Norway. Statoil (as operator) and Masdar, made an investment decision on the 402MW 1.5 TKOWFL pools the renewable energy expertise of the RWE Group and Statkraft, Dudgeon offshore wind farm in the Greater Wash. operating in Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and beyond Europe. 1-1 Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm Ltd Triton Knoll Electrical System Environmental Statement - Volume 1 1.11 RWE Innogy UK and Statkraft UK are part of the Forewind Consortium currently surveys. TKOWFL also undertook consultation with statutory and non-statutory developing the proposed Creyke Beck and Teesside Offshore Wind Farms within the consultees and the general public to determine the preferred form of development for Dogger Bank Zone1 (combined generating capacity of up to 4.8 GW). the Triton Knoll Electrical System necessary to connect the offshore wind farm with the onshore National Grid substation near Bicker Fen. Project background 1.17 Following detailed technical and commercial optimisation studies undertaken by 1.12 The consented TKOWF array is located approximately