Narec - Drafting of a development envelope description for  EIA scoping purposes Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) have recently compiled a preliminary development description which will...

Drafting of a development envelope description for EIA scoping purposes

By Sheena McGeorge | 14/05/10 | In Wind Energy

Drafting of a development envelope description for  EIA scoping purposes

Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) have recently compiled a preliminary development description which will be used as the basis for assessment during the scoping phase of the EIA for the Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Scheme.

Given the range of potential technologies that might conceivably be deployed within the demonstration site, the approach that is being adopted in describing the project is to apply the principles of a “maximum credible scenario” to the parameters of the site and the potential technology that could be constructed.

Consequently, applications for consent will need to proceed ahead of occupancy confirmation.  As such, the definition of a maximum credible scenario is fundamental to defining a scheme if it is to achieve a credible consent. As the precise details are not known, the mechanism of a “maximum potential adverse effect” or the “Rochdale Envelope” of a project as it may be constructed is expected to allow sufficient flexibility for any proposed technology promoted in an application for consent.

Setting the parameters of the project against this principle requires an understanding of the proposed demonstration site, emerging technology and with that, identification of those technical specifications that are of relevance to the project descriptions. 

SKM as experts in the field of current and emerging turbine technology were commissioned to identify credible parameters for the scheme.

Four headline parameters have been identified to date:

• footprint [of the turbines, foundations and cables on and offshore];
• heights [of the turbines above the MSWL];
• distances [between each row of the array, the pods within each row and neighbouring land users onshore];
• timings & durations [of construction and operation].

The scoping assessment will be procured shortly and the definition work completed by SKM provides some of the key project definition information which will be built upon during the scoping and EIA phases.  

As the development is an open access scheme, a firm project definition detailing every turbine and foundation structure to be demonstrated cannot be known until all tenant pods have been allocated and occupancy fully committed.