BROUGH HEAD WAVE FARM LIMITED BROUGH HEAD WAVE FARM Scoping Report AUGUST 2011 REPORT REFERENCE NUMBER - BHWF-SD.PR.EU.UK.ORKB-REP-0001 Page 1 of 73 CONTENTS ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................................. 5 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................................................7 1.1.1 Brough Head Wave Farm Limited...................................................................................................7 1.1.2 Agreement for Lease.......................................................................................................................7 1.1.3 Project Phasing ...............................................................................................................................9 1.2 PROJECT OVERVIEW .....................................................................................................................................9 1.2.1 Technology......................................................................................................................................9 1.2.2 Offshore Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................9 1.2.3 Onshore Infrastructure..................................................................................................................10 1.3 DOCUMENT PURPOSE.................................................................................................................................10 2. POLICY & LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT......................................................................................................... 11 2.1 PLANNING POLICY......................................................................................................................................11 2.1.1 National Regulations .................................................................................................................... 11 2.1.2 Regional Policy..............................................................................................................................11 2.2 CONSENTS & LICENSING..............................................................................................................................11 2.2.1 Section 36 Electricity Act 1989......................................................................................................12 2.2.2 Section 37 Electricity Act 1989......................................................................................................12 2.2.3 Marine Licence..............................................................................................................................13 2.2.4 Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, Section 57 .......................................................13 2.2.5 Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.......................................................13 2.2.6 Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations ...........................................................................14 2.2.7 The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2007 .................14 2.2.8 Energy Act 2004............................................................................................................................14 2.2.9 Survey, Deploy and Monitor Policy for Marine Renewables .........................................................15 2.2.10 Rochdale Envelope Approach........................................................................................................15 2.3 GUIDANCE AND STRATEGIC RESEARCH ...........................................................................................................15 3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................................ 17 3.1 SITE SELECTION & LOCATION .......................................................................................................................17 3.2 PROJECT TIMELINES ...................................................................................................................................17 3.3 PROJECT COMPONENTS ..............................................................................................................................20 3.3.1 Overview and Development of Oyster Technology.......................................................................20 3.3.2 Offshore Components ...................................................................................................................22 3.3.3 Onshore Components....................................................................................................................24 3.4 INSTALLATION AND COMMISSIONING.............................................................................................................27 3.4.1 Offshore Installation and Commissioning.....................................................................................27 3.4.2 Pipeline Installation ......................................................................................................................27 3.4.3 Hydro‐electric Plant ......................................................................................................................28 3.4.4 Electrical Infrastructure ................................................................................................................28 3.5 OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE...................................................................................................................28 3.6 DECOMMISSIONING (OR REPOWERING) .........................................................................................................29 3.7 ROCHDALE ENVELOPE APPROACH .................................................................................................................29 4. BASELINE ENVIRONMENT AND DATA GAPS......................................................................................... 30 4.1 CONSERVATION AND DESIGNATED SITES.........................................................................................................30 Page 2 of 73 4.2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................................36 4.2.1 Air Quality and Climate.................................................................................................................36 4.2.2 Water Quality ...............................................................................................................................36 4.2.3 Wind, Waves and Tides.................................................................................................................36 4.2.4 Bathymetry, Seabed Geology and Type ........................................................................................36 4.2.5 Terrestrial and Coastal Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology...................................................37 4.2.6 EIA Studies – Physical Environment ..............................................................................................37 4.3 BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT.........................................................................................................................38 4.3.1 Sub‐tidal Environment ..................................................................................................................38 4.3.2 Intertidal Environment..................................................................................................................39 4.3.3 Ornithology ...................................................................................................................................39 4.3.4 Marine Mammals .........................................................................................................................40 4.3.5 Fish & Shellfish ..............................................................................................................................41 4.3.6 Terrestrial Habitats & Species.......................................................................................................42 4.3.7 Ornithology ...................................................................................................................................43 4.3.8 EIA Studies – Biological Environment............................................................................................43 4.4 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT..............................................................................................................................45 4.4.1 Marine and Terrestrial Cultural Heritage......................................................................................45 4.4.2 Landscape, Seascape and Visual Amenity.....................................................................................45 4.4.3 Navigation and Commercial Fisheries...........................................................................................46 4.4.4 Tourism and Recreation................................................................................................................47 4.4.5 Local Communities and Other Users of the Area ..........................................................................48