1. Introduction
1.1. Purpose
- This outline Lighting and Marking Plan (LMP) has been prepared by RPS and Ossian Offshore Wind Farm Limited (Ossian OWFL), a joint venture partnership between SSE Renewables (SSER) Limited, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), and Marubeni Corporation (hereafter referred to as ‘the Applicant’), to support the Array Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report for the Ossian Array (hereafter referred to as ‘the Array’).
- The lighting and marking of wind turbines and Offshore Substation Platforms (OSPs) will be finalised in consultation with the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). An LMP is likely to be required through the Section 36 Consent and Marine Licence as consent conditions and therefore this LMP will be updated and submitted to Marine Directorate - Licensing and Operations Team (MD-LOT) for approval post consent.
- This outline LMP aims to set out the aviation and navigational lighting and marking requirements for the Array.
2. Project Background and Consent Conditions
2.1. Project Background
- The Array is located off the east coast of Scotland, approximately 80 km south-east of Aberdeen from the nearest point (see Figure 2.1 Open ▸ ).
- The Array covers an area of approximately 859 km2. It comprises up to 265 floating wind turbines and up to 15 OSPs. Subsea inter-array cables will connect the wind turbines to each other and to the OSPs, while interconnector cables will connect the OSPs to each other.
- All structures shall be lit once installed and shall use temporary lighting until the permanent lighting is in place. This includes the lighting of structures during towing from the integration port to the Array.
2.2. Consent Conditions
- Table 2.1 Open ▸ lists the conditions of the Array consents relevant to lighting and marking. This LMP has been produced for the purposes of satisfying these conditions and has been prepared in accordance with relevant legislation, guidance and good practice.
Table 2.1: Consent Conditions Relevant to Lighting and Marking
- This LMP is a live document and will be further developed in accordance with the requirements of the relevant consent conditions and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, post-consent.
3. Summary of Designed in Measures, Mitigation and Monitoring Included in the Array EIA Report
- This section describes the designed in measures, mitigation and monitoring commitments adopted as part of the Array EIA Report in relation to lighting and marking. These are included by receptor and Array EIA Report chapter below.
3.2. Aviation, Military and Communications
- Volume 2, chapter 14 identified wind turbines causing interference on aviation radar systems as a likely significant effect (LSE1) and creation of physical obstacles affecting air traffic as a minor adverse significant effect. A designed in measure identified within this chapter is the preparation and implementation of an LMP which should set out specific lighting requirements in relation to aviation - to be installed on the wind turbines. Volume 2, chapter 14 of the Array EIA Report has identified all potential impacts and designed in measures relevant to lighting and marking. These are listed in Table 3.2 Open ▸ .
Table 3.2: Designed in Measures Relevant to Civil and Military Aviation and Radar