7.6.1. Introduction
- This section of this Scoping Report presents the relevant infrastructure and other users present in the vicinity of the Array and considers the scope of assessment on infrastructure and other users receptors from the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning of the Array.
7.6.2. Study Area
- Figure 7.15 Open ▸ shows the infrastructure and other users study area which includes the Array.
- As the infrastructure and other users study area varies in scale depending on the receptor, this has been divided into different areas according to each receptor, as follows:
- infrastructure and other users study area - inner (purple) area (within 1 km of the site boundary): this area includes the extent of potential direct physical overlap between the Array activities and the following receptors:
– offshore energy projects (e.g. offshore wind farms, tide and wave projects);
– cables and pipelines;
– carbon capture and storage, natural gas storage and underground coal gasification;
– oil and gas operations; and
– coal deposits.
- infrastructure and other users study area -– potential increased turbidity area (orange area): this area is based on one tidal ellipse of the site boundary and relates to the potential increase in suspended sediments which may occur as a result of certain activities within the Array. This study area is related to only those receptors which are susceptible to increases in SSCs, specifically:
– aggregate extraction and disposal sites; and
– recreational receptors (diving sites).
- broad infrastructure and other users study area (green hatched area; within 10 km of the site boundary): this area will consider all other projects/plans in the vicinity of the Array to take forward into the Cumulative Effect Assessment (CEA).
7.6.3. Site-Specific Survey Data
- There have not been any site-specific surveys undertaken to inform this Scoping Report for infrastructure and other users. As suitable data is available throughout the east Scotland region, new data or modelling studies will not be required to characterise the infrastructure and other users baseline for the Array Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report. It should be noted, however, that a winter vessel traffic survey was completed in December 2022 and a second vessel traffic survey is planned for summer 2023. Results from these surveys will feed into the Infrastructure and Other Users Technical Report and EIA chapter, as appropriate.
Figure 7.15: Infrastructure and Other Users Study Area
7.6.4. Baseline Environment
- This section provides an overview of the baseline environment with regard to infrastructure and other users. To support this Scoping Report, a number of baseline datasets were identified, as summarised in Table 7.17 Open ▸ .
Table 7.17: Summary of Key Desktop Reports
- The following receptors have been considered as part of the baseline environment for infrastructure and other users.
Recreational activity
- Figure 7.16 Open ▸ shows a heat map of 23 different recreation and tourism activities undertaken at sea or around the coastline (Marine Scotland, 2015). In addition, the NMPi presents several data layers for recreational activities, providing an overview of recreational activities around the Scottish coast.
- There is high recreational activity in the coastal region and area of sea between North Berwick and Elie and Earlsferry, including recreational boating, SCUBA diving, surfing, surf kayaking and paddleboarding ( Figure 7.16 Open ▸ , Figure 7.17 Open ▸ and Figure 7.18 Open ▸ ). Recreational sea angling activity is also high in the area of sea around Arbroath and Dunbar, with extensive shore angling all along the east Scottish coast (NMPi, 2022). All recreational activities listed above are highly seasonal and dependant on certain weather conditions.
- As the Array is approximately 80 km from the nearest point on the Scottish coast, recreational activity occurring within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area is considered minimal or unlikely. Furthermore, coastal recreational activities (SCUBA diving, surfing, surf kayaking and paddleboarding) will not occur within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area, therefore, these activities have not been considered further within this Scoping Report.
- Figure 7.17 Open ▸ shows AIS tracks for recreational vessels which are located within 3 nm of the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area, therefore, there is a possibility that recreational vessels may come into close proximity with the Array and may be impacted by its infrastructure.
- As there are no offshore wind, wave and tidal projects located within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area, these have not been considered further within this Scoping Report.
Figure 7.16: All Recreational Activities in the Vicinity of the Site Boundary
Figure 7.17: RYA Recreational AIS Intensity in the Vicinity of the Site Boundary
Figure 7.18: Recreational Activities (Windsurfing, Surfing and SCUBA) in the Vicinity of the Site Boundary
Offshore wind, wave and tidal projects
- There are no offshore wind, wave or tidal projects within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area ( Figure 7.19 Open ▸ ). However, there are a number of awarded ScotWind sites in the vicinity, including the Morven Offshore Wind Farm project (EnBW and bp) and the Bellrock Offshore Wind Farm project (BlueFloat Energy and Falck Renewables). These are currently at the pre-application phase, and the Applicant has undertaken early engagement with other ScotWind developers, particularly in the east region, to collaborate on activities at a regional scale.
Oil and gas operations
- The site boundary overlaps a number of non-active hydrocarbon licence blocks, including: 27/1, 27/2, 27/7, 27/8, 27/13, 27/14, 27/15, 27/19 and 28/11.
- The site boundary overlaps active hydrocarbon licence blocks 27/3, 27/9 and 27/10, which are operated by North Sea Natural Resources Ltd (Licence number: P2321) ( Figure 7.19 Open ▸ ).
- In October 2022, the NSTA (formerly the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA)) launched the 33rd Offshore Licensing Round with 898 blocks or part-blocks on offer across the main producing areas of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). It should be noted that the site boundary only overlaps one block on offer in the 33rd Offshore Licencing Round – Block 27/8 (NSTA, 2023) ( Figure 7.19 Open ▸ ). It is anticipated that the first awards from this Offshore Licencing Round will be announced in Quarter 2 2023 (NSTA, 2022).
- There is potential for further exploration or development in this area of the North Sea due to the North Sea Natural Resources Ltd existing licence overlapping the site boundary, and the launch of the 33rd Licensing Round. The Applicant has been engaging with North Sea Natural Resources Ltd since the ScotWind pre-application stage and following award. Engagement has been positive and will continue to ensure activities are managed in a manner that facilitates coexistence.
- At present no recent exploration, appraisal or production wells have been drilled within the site boundary.
- The closest well to the site boundary is approximately 4 km to the north-east of the site boundary and located within P2321, however, this was drilled, plugged and abandoned in 1970 by Amoco UK Petroleum Limited, and did not encounter any hydrocarbons.
- There are no oil and gas pipelines located within the site boundary. The closest pipeline (Catcher Gas Export Pipeline) is located approximately 48 km from the site boundary.
- The following services are associated with the oil and gas industry:
- helicopters: the oil and gas industry relies on helicopters for personnel transfer and emergency evacuation. Helicopter travel and associated aviation considerations are addressed separately in section 7.3; and
- vessels: the oil and gas industry requires supply or support vessels for its operations. Vessels and associated navigational considerations are addressed separately in section 7.2.
Carbon capture, natural gas storage, underground gasification and coal deposits
- There are currently no carbon capture, natural gas storage, underground gasification or coal deposits located within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area.
- Therefore, these have not been considered further within this Scoping Report as they are not present within the infrastructure and other users study area ( Figure 7.19 Open ▸ ) and, therefore, the Array activities and infrastructure are unlikely to cause significant effects with respect to these receptors.
Subsea telecommunication cables
- There are no active or disused subsea telecommunication cables located within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner area (EMODnet, 2022b). Therefore, subsea telecommunication cables have not been considered further within this Scoping Report.
Marine disposal sites
- No active or closed disposal sites have been identified within the infrastructure and other users study area – inner ( Figure 7.19 Open ▸ ). Therefore, marine disposal sites have not been considered further within this Scoping Report.
Marine aggregate extraction sites
- Although Scotland has a considerable marine sand and gravel resource, the marine aggregate industry has historically been very small due to more readily accessible land supplies. Marine aggregate licences have historically been issued to two sites in Scotland, one site in the Firth of Forth and the second site in the Firth of Tay (Scottish Government, 2015) which do not overlap the infrastructure and other users study area - potential increased turbidity area. There are no active licences for marine aggregate extraction within the east Scotland region.
- Therefore, marine aggregate extraction sites have not been considered further within this Scoping Report.
Figure 7.19: Key Infrastructure and Other Users in the Vicinity of the Site Boundary, Including Marine Disposal Sites
7.6.5. Potential Array Impacts
- Potential impacts on infrastructure and other users receptors which may occur during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases of the Array in the absence of designed in measures have been identified in Table 7.18 Open ▸ .
Table 7.18: Potential Impacts Identified for infrastructure and Other Users in the Absence of Designed In Measures
7.6.6. Designed In Measures
- The following designed in measures have been considered in the identification of potential impacts that have been scoped into the Array assessment, including how these can reduce potential for impact ( Table 7.19 Open ▸ ).
- timely and efficient distribution of NtM, Kingfisher notifications and other navigational warnings of the position and nature of works associated with the Array;
- application and use of safety zones during construction, maintenance and decommissioning activities associated with wind turbines and OSPs;
- use of advisory safety distances around vessels undertaking construction, major maintenance, and decommissioning activities; and
- the Applicant will seek to engage early with oil and gas operators and, where possible and appropriate to do so, coordinate activities to facilitate coexistence.
- Consultation with statutory consultees will be undertaken throughout the EIA process to understand the requirement and feasibility of additional measures. These will be dependent on the significance of the effects on infrastructure and other users.
7.6.7. Potential Impacts After the Implementation of Designed In Measures
- Table 7.19 Open ▸ outlines the impacts which have been scoped into the Array assessment alongside a description of any additional data collection (e.g. site-specific surveys) and/or supporting analyses (e.g. modelling) that will be required to enable a full assessment of the impacts.
- Table 7.20 Open ▸ describes the potential impacts to infrastructure and other users that have been scoped out of the assessment.
Table 7.19: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Into the Environmental Impact Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users. Project Phase Refers to Construction (C), Operation and Maintenance (O) and Decommissioning (D) Phase of the Array
Table 7.20: Impacts Proposed to be Scoped Out of the Environmental Impact Assessment for Infrastructure and Other Users
7.6.8. Proposed Approach to the Environmental Impact Assessment
- The methodology set out in section 4 will be followed when preparing the Infrastructure and Other Users chapter of the Array EIA Report. The following guidance documents will also be considered with regard to infrastructure and other users as applicable:
- the RYA's Position on Offshore Renewable Energy Developments: Paper 1 (of 4) – Wind Energy, June 2019 (RYA, 2019b);
- assessment of Impact of Offshore Wind Energy Structures on the Marine Environment (Marine Institute, 2000);
- guidance on Environmental Impact Assessment of Offshore Renewable Energy Development on Surfing Resources and Recreation (Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), 2009);
- European Subsea Cables Association (ESCA) Guideline No 6, The Proximity of Offshore Renewable Energy Installations and Submarine Cable Infrastructure in UK Waters (ESCA, 2016);
- International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) recommendations (ICPC, 2021):
– Recommendation No. 2. Cable Routing and Reporting Criteria;
– Recommendation No.3. Telecommunications Cable and oil Pipeline / Power Cables Crossing Criteria; and
– Recommendation No.13. The Proximity of Offshore Renewable Wind Energy Installations and Submarine Cable Infrastructure in National Waters.
- TCE and CES Agreements and Oil and Gas Licences (NSTA, 2023); and
- TCE Guidance: Submarine cables and offshore renewable energy installation – Proximity study (TCE, 2012).