11.13. Proposed Monitoring

  1. It is not appropriate to propose specific monitoring measures at this stage. Instead, the Applicant will engage with MD-LOT, NatureScot, and other relevant key stakeholders to identify and contribute to targeted and proportionate regional or strategic monitoring to better understand the environmental effects of offshore wind taking account of known evidence gaps. This may involve engaging and contributing to ongoing strategic initiatives from ScotMER forum (Scottish Government, 2024b). These measures will be agreed with key stakeholders and will be set out in a Project Environmental Monitoring Programme (PEMP).

11.14. Transboundary Effects

  1. A screening of transboundary impacts has been carried out and any potential for significant transboundary effects with regard to offshore ornithology from the Array upon the interests of European Economic Area (EEA) states has been assessed as part of the EIA. The potential transboundary impacts are summarised below:
  • Disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities.
  • Collision with wind turbines.

Disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities

  1. For all other species, disturbance and displacement was determined to result in minor adverse effect at worst case. As such, transboundary impacts, which encompass wider populations and those more distant from the Array, are not expected to occur. Therefore, transboundary impacts from disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities are determined to be negligible, which is not significant in EIA terms.

Collision with Wind Turbines

  1. For all species, collision with wind turbines was determined to result in minor adverse effect at worst case. As such, transboundary impacts, which encompass wider populations and those more distant from the Array, are not expected to occur. Therefore, transboundary impacts from collision with wind turbines are determined to be negligible, which is not significant in EIA terms.

Combined Impacts – Displacement and Collision with Wind Turbines

  1. For kittiwake, a potentially significant effect was identified as a result of the combined impact of displacement and collision. This potentially significant effect occurred during the breeding season when most birds found within the Array would be expected to be UK-breeding birds associated with colonies on the Scottish coast and Scottish islands. The impact caused to the annual population under the NatureScot extreme scenario is a direct result of breeding season impacts. However, it is important to note that there is likely doubling up of impacts, as displaced birds will not suffer collisions. Therefore, the impacts on kittiwake populations are overestimated. On that basis, this potentially significant impact has no potential to lead to a significant transboundary effect. For gannet, the combined impact was deemed to be minor at worst case. Therefore, transboundary impacts from combined impacts from displacement and collision with wind turbines are determined to be negligible, which is not significant in EIA terms.

11.15. Inter-Related Effects (and Ecosystem Assessment)

  1. A description of the likely inter-related effects arising from the Array on offshore ornithology is provided in volume 2, chapter 20.
  2. For offshore ornithology, the following potential impacts have been considered within the inter-related assessment:
  • temporary habitat loss and disturbance;
  • indirect impacts from construction/decommissioning noise;
  • indirect impacts from UXO clearance;
  • disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities;
  • barrier to movement;
  • collision with wind turbines;
  • changes to prey availability; and
  • entanglement.
  1. Table 11.106   Open ▸ lists the inter-related effects (project lifetime effects) that are predicted to arise during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Array and also the inter-related effects (receptor-led effects) that are predicted to arise for offshore ornithology receptors.
  2. Effects on offshore ornithology are not expected to have secondary effects on other receptors.

 

Table 11.106:
Summary of Potential Impacts for Offshore Ornithology from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and From Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)

Table 11.106: Summary of Potential Impacts for Offshore Ornithology from Individual Effects Occurring Across the Construction, Operation and Maintenance and Decommissioning Phases of the Array (Array Lifetime Effects) and From Multiple Effects Interacting Across all Phases (Receptor-led Effects)

 

11.16. Summary of Impacts, Mitigation, Likely Significant Effects and Monitoring

  1. Information on offshore ornithology within the offshore ornithology study area was collected through a desktop study and site-specific DAS. An assessment of the impacts resulting from the Array has been carried out using the methodology set out in section 11.9, in line with the guidance policy and legislation set out in section 11.4 and informed through the consultation process as described in section 11.5. This information is summarised in Table 11.107   Open ▸ and Table 11.108   Open ▸
  2. Table 11.107   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts, designed in measures and the conclusion of the magnitude of impacts in EIA terms in respect to offshore ornithology. The impacts assessed include:
  • temporary habitat loss and disturbance;
  • indirect impacts from construction/decommissioning noise;
  • indirect impacts from UXO clearance;
  • disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities;
  • barrier to movement;
  • collision with wind turbines;
  • changes to prey availability; and
  • entanglement.
  1. Overall, it is concluded that there will be no significant effects arising from the Array alone during the construction, operation and maintenance or decommissioning phase.
  2. Table 11.107   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts for the Array alone, designed in measures and the conclusion of LSE1 on offshore ornithology in EIA terms.
  3. The cumulative effects assessed include:
  • disturbance and displacement from the physical presence of wind turbines and maintenance activities; and
  • collision with wind turbines
  1. Overall, it is concluded that there will be the following significant cumulative effects from the Array alongside other projects/plans.
  • significant adverse effect on kittiwake resulting from the combined displacement and collision with wind turbines impact when Berwick Bank is included.
  1. Table 11.108   Open ▸ presents a summary of the potential impacts from the Array cumulatively with other plans and projects, designed in measures and the conclusion of LSE1 on offshore ornithology in EIA terms.
  2. No likely significant transboundary effects have been identified in regard to effects of the Array.
Table 11.107:
Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring of the Array Alone

Table 11.107: Summary of Likely Significant Environmental Effects, Secondary Mitigation and Monitoring of the Array Alone


Table 11.108:
Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring

Table 11.108: Summary of Likely Significant Cumulative Environment Effects, Mitigation and Monitoring