North Wales Wind Farm Connections EIA Scoping Report January 2014 Contents Section 1.0 Introduction 01 Section 2.0 The Project 09 Section 3.0 Planning Context 19 Section 4.0 Consultation 21 Section 5.0 Scope And Methodology 23 Section 6.0 Biodiversity And Geological Conservation 27 Section 7.0 Landscape And Visual 33 Section 8.0 Historic Environment 43 Section 9.0 Flood Risk 47 Section 10.0 Land Use 49 Section 11.0 Socio Economic 53 Section 12.0 Traffic And Transport 55 Section 13.0 Noise 57 Section 14.0 Electric And Magnetic Fields 59 Section 15.0 Proposed Issues Scoped Out 61 Figures: Figure 1.1 TAN 8 Area A and Consented Wind Farms 0 Figure 1.2 Preferred Route Corridor (Blue Green Link) and Proposed Route Alignment 2 Figure 1.3 Proposed Route Alignment and Extent of Development 4 Figure 2.1a Proposed Route Alignment and Extent of Development with Constraints 10 Figure 2.1b Proposed Route Alignment and Extent of Development with Constraints 11 Figure 2.1c Proposed Route Alignment and Extent of Development with Constraints 12 Figure 2.1d Proposed Route Alignment and Extent of Development with Constraints 13 Figure 2.2 Connection Types: Double Wood or Steel Poles and Steel Towers 14 EIA Scoping Report St Asaph St Asaph Henllan Henllan Denbigh Denbigh Conwy Council Denbighshire Conwy Council Council Denbighshire Council Clocaenog Ruthin Ruthin Brenig Clocaenog Brenig !( !( !( !( !( !(!( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !(!( !( !(!( !( !( !(!(!( !( !( !( !(!( !( !( !(!( !(!( !( !( !( !(!( !( !(!( Kilometers 0 1 2 3 Kilometers 0 1 2 3 Figure 1.1 TAN 8 Area A & Consented Wind Farms FigKuerye: 1.1 TAN 8 Area A & Consented Wind Farms Key:! Tir Mostyn Existing Wind Farm TAN 8 Area A ! ! Tir CMlocsatyeno Egx Wisitnindg F Warmin dA wFairtming Decision (64-96 MW) TAN 8 Area A District Boundary ! ! CloBcraeennigo Cg oWnsinedn teFda rWmin Adw Faairtmin g(4 D0e McWisi)on (64-96 MW) ! 400kV Overhead Line ! BreDneigrw Cyoddn sBeancthe dC oWnsinedn tFeda rWmi n(d4 0F aMrmW ()23 MW) District Boundary ! ! DeNrwayndt dB aBcahc Cho Cnsoennstendt Wedin Wd Finadr mF a(2rm7. 5( 2M3W M)W) 1324k0V0 OkVve Orhveeardh Leiande Line ! Substations 33kV Overhead Line ! Nant Bach Consented Wind Farm (27.5 MW) 132kV Overhead Line ! Substations 33kV Overhead Line Figure 1.1: TAN 8 A and Consented Wind Farms 0 North Wales Wind Farms Connection 1.0 Introduction SP Manweb 1.1 SP Manweb Ltd is the distribution network operator 1.5 The four contracted wind farms and their for North and Mid Wales, Cheshire, Merseyside approximate megawatt (MW) outputs are detailed and parts of Shropshire. SP Manweb has statutory below and shown in Figure 1.1. All wind farms are duties under the Electricity Act 1989 to develop and located within TAN 8 SSA A. maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economical system of electricity distribution. It is also required Clocaenog (SJ013578) to provide new connections onto the distribution 1.6 RWE npower renewables have submitted a network if requested. Development Consent Order (DCO) application to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) to develop a new Overview of the Proposed Development wind farm in Clocaenog Forest in North Wales. The 1.2 The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) forest is managed by Natural Resources Wales published its policy statement “A Low Carbon (NRW) (previously Forestry Commission Wales) Revolution – the Welsh Assembly Government on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. Energy Policy Statement March 2010”, which sets Clocaenog wind farm is expected to generate a target of 2 Gigawatt (GW) installed onshore wind between 64 and 96 MW, from 32 turbines. The capacity for 2015/2017. The policy states that this turbines will have a total height (to tip) of 145m. will be achieved by optimising the use of strategic An application was submitted at the end of March areas set out in Technical Advice Note (TAN) 8 on 2013. Planning for Renewable Energy. TAN 8 identifies areas where, for efficiency and environmental Brenig (SJ021742) reasons amongst others, large scale (over 25 1.7 In April 2009, Brenig Wind Ltd received consent to megawatt (MW)) onshore wind developments build a 16 turbine wind farm at Llyn Brenig, with should be concentrated. an installed generating capacity of 40MW. The turbines will have a total height (to tip) of 100m. 1.3 SP Manweb has contracts with a number of wind farm developers seeking connection in the TAN Nant Bach (SJ989470) 8 Strategic Search Area (SSA). Four wind farm 1.8 In May 2011, Vattenfall received consent to build an developers have applied and agreed terms for 11 turbine wind farm at Nant Bach, with an installed SP Manweb to provide them with connections generating capacity of up to 27.5 MW. The turbines to the electricity grid network. As discussed in will have a total height to tip of 100m. The 33kV SP Manweb’s Strategic Options Report (SOR) connection to the SP Manweb collector hub will run (SP Manweb May 2013), after consideration of a underground through the Clocaenog Forest. number of options, the preferred strategic option is for SP Manweb to provide a collector substation, to Derwydd Bach (SJ044485) connect the power from the wind farms via shared 1.9 In July 2011, Tegni received consent to build a 132kV connection to the national transmission 10 turbine wind farm at Derwydd Bach, with an network at the existing St Asaph substation. The installed generating capacity of 23 MW. The preferred option for a single circuit overhead turbines will have a total height to tip of 120.5m. line connecting the new collector substation to a The 132kV connection to the SP Manweb collector terminal pole approaching the St Asaph substation hub will run underground through the Clocaenog (the “132kV Connection”) at which point a section Forest. of underground cable has been identified as 1.10 The proposed 132kV Connection will terminate being required. Further assessment is required into the recently extended SP Manweb substation to confirm if there are any additional areas of at St Asaph (SJ021742). No formal development underground cable which are either technically consent is required for the substation works at St or environmentally appropriate. The contracts are Asaph. based on this preferred strategic option. 1.4 This Report focuses on the 132kV Connection. SP Project Development Manweb’s approach to assessing and consenting 1.11 SP Manweb are committed to developing a development related to the 132kV Connection, technically feasible and economically viable including the new collector substation and sections connection which causes the least disturbance to of underground cable, is explained at 1.18 to 1.20 the environment and the people who live, work and below. recreate within it. EIA Scoping Report 1 St Asaph St Asaph River Elwy Valley River Elwy Valley Llannefydd Llannefydd Henllan Henllan Denbigh Denbigh Groes Groes Segrwyd Segrwyd Peniel Peniel Conwy CouncilConwy Council Denbighshire Denbighshire Council SaronSaron ClocaenogClocaenog BrenigBrenig Kilometers 0 1 2 3 Kilometers 0 1 2 3 Figure 1.2 Preferred Route Corridor (Blue Green Link) and Proposed Route Alignment Figure 1.2 Preferred Route Corridor (Blue Green Link) and Proposed Route Alignment Key: Key: ! TAN 8 Area A Tir Mostyn Existing Wind Farm ! ! TAN 8 Area A ClocaenogTir Mostyn Wind Existing Farm (Awaiting Wind Farm Decision) !( Preferred Route Corridor (Blue Green Link) ! BrenigClocaenog Consented Wind Wind Farm Farm (Awaiting Decision) PreferredProposed Route Route Corridor Alignment (Blue Green Link) !( DistrictBrenig Boundary Consented Wind Farm Proposed Route Alignment District Boundary Figure 1.2: Preferred Route Corridor (Blue/Green link) and Proposed Route Alignment 2 North Wales Wind Farms!( Connection !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( !( 1.12 The SOR identified the requirement for new Special Scientific Interest and runs over Denbigh infrastructure in the form of a new 132kV circuit (and Golf Course. For many environmental criteria and new 33/132kV substation), as the capacity of the for technical considerations the northern ends of existing circuit is fully utilised. The SOR considered the Blue/Red and Blue/Green corridors are very a number of connection options to connect the four similar in performance. However the consultation wind farms to the existing grid network, including feedback gave a stronger preference against existing substation sites in Wrexham and Flintshire the Blue/Red corridor, so the Blue/Green link as well as the selected site at St Asaph, which was was selected as the preferred route corridor. The considered to be the most efficient, co-ordinated corridor is approximately 20 km in length, and runs and economical option. The assessment also between Brenig / Clocaenog North and St Asaph, considered the landscape and visual implications as indicated in Figure 1.2: Preferred route corridor and a preliminary environmental appraisal as (Blue/Green link) and proposed route alignment. outlined in the North Wales Wind Farms Strategic Environmental Alternatives document (Gillespies Proposed Route Alignment March 2011). 1.17 Following selection of the Blue/Green corridor a proposed 100m wide route alignment has been 1.13 The ‘Scottish Power North Wales Wind Farms developed within the corridor will be taken forward Connection Route Corridor Report’ (Gillespies May for detailed line design. The route alignment 2013) considered the route corridor options for the includes a route option to the west of Henllan in preferred strategic option identified in the SOR. In response to non-statutory consultation feedback.