fios 633 Friday 30th June 2023
by Netty Sopata
In April 2022 Northland Power secured the leasing rights to two sea areas off the coast of Lewis. These areas were identified by the Scottish Government and supported by CnES as plots to be included in the national ScotWind leasing process. Another area off the west coast of Lewis has also been secured for development by energy company: Magnora Offshore Wind.
On Tuesday 20th June and Wednesday 21st June, Northland Power held a series of four public information events to provide updates to the local community on the progress of one of their offshore wind projects: Spiorad na Mara (Spirit of the Sea). This fixed-bottom wind turbine project, proposed to be constructed within the area marked in green (lease area) on the Map (pictured on page 13) is approximately 5km (3 miles) off the coast at its closest point, with the turbine locations yet to be decided.
At the event held at the Barvas and Brue Community Centre on the evening of Tuesday 20th June, information banners were on display together with copies of a project newsletter, for members of the community to read through and discuss the proposed development. Tanya Davies (Project Director), Eilidh Whiteford (Scotwind Community Liaison Officer), Grant Anderson (Scotwind Project Developer) and Steve Thomas (Media Coordinator) were also available to talk to. In addition to this a number of Spiorad na Mara representatives and specialists were on hand to answer questions, discuss concerns and assist in the collation of feedback from attendees.
A steady flow of members of the community attended the event, and it is fair to say that there was a vast amount of information for everyone to digest, not only due to the scale of the project, but also due to discussion points surrounding each section of proposed development.
Firstly, there is the offshore site itself. The full extent of the lease area covers an approximate area of up to 161 km2 and could contain up to sixty-six fixed bottom wind turbines. It is estimated that these will have a potential total generating capacity of around 840MW which could meet the average annual electricity needs for up to 760,000 Scottish homes.
Secondly, there is the Westside onshore development area: the point at which the ‘Array Cables’ used to transmit electricity from the windfarm reach land. Three areas have been identified as potential ‘Landfall’ sites at which the development of a sub-station is required: between Arnol and Brue, between Upper Barvas and Ballantrushal or between Shader and Melbost Borve. Each of these areas will be assessed for feasibility over the following year with a preferred location being selected for development and inclusion in the final planning application.
Upon exiting the substation (which has an estimated minimum footprint size of 100m x 200m) these cables will reduce in quantity and become ‘Onshore Export Cables’. It is proposed that these will need to be laid approximately 1m underground following one of the proposed routes indicated on the map. The project team aim to bury the cable all the way to Stornoway unless constraints on the ground prevent it in a particular area. After crossing the Island, the cables will connect to a second Northland Power substation close to the SSEN Converter substation west of Stornoway, with all electricity ultimately entering the national grid via the planned Western Isles Interconnector. Many of you who have followed the development of land-based wind turbines on the island will be aware that this interconnector has been planned for many years; it has now been approved by the regulator (and increased in size) to accommodate the offshore wind generation as well as onshore generation projects.
Many of the discussion points raised by attendees covered concerns surrounding potential damage to the environment, marine ecology, and infrastructure support for the required workforce. Due to the early stage of the project development, definitive answers were not yet available; a series of surveys surrounding engineering, peat, hydrology, background noise, cultural heritage, ecology and the breeding and wintering of birds are due for completion over the following year. Whilst the first report on aerial bird and marine mammal surveys is due to be completed by the end of June 2023, a second year of surveys is currently underway. Rather than presenting a definitive plan, the event was very much an opportunity to discuss and have conversations about what the plan might be, and facilitate the collation of feedback from members of the community to assist in developing the planning application which is scheduled for submission to the Scottish Government towards the end of 2024. Prior to the submission of the planning application, the project team will hold at least two phases of formal public consultation. If you were unable to attend the events the following link can be used to access information and submit feedback: https://northlandpowerscotwind.co.uk/public-information-events/
The enormity of the project, and the impact it will have on the community should not be underestimated. Alongside the concerns surrounding the areas identified earlier, many conversations were also held where local residents recognised the opportunities the project could represent for the island and communities.
There is a potential start date of construction of 2028 with a subsequent operational date of 2031 and an anticipated lifespan of the windfarm of at least thirty-five years. After which the Northland Power lease may or may not be renewed by the Scottish Government. It is the point at which the windfarm becomes operational that (outwith supply chain and employment opportunities during development and construction) the project has the potential to deliver multi–million-pound community investment during the lifetime of the project. Negotiations between the estates, both community-owned and private, and Northland Power have been ongoing to establish what this investment has the potential to look like, and the Northland Project team welcome hearing from local residents directly as well. UOG provided the following update to fios in relation to the on-going dicussions: “Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, along with other affected land trusts, are in regular contact with Northland Power and their land agents as their potential offshore wind development progresses. We appreciate this opportunity to open discussions at this early stage to ensure the community view is heard and there is the opportunity to negotiate for benefit to the community should the development go ahead. Land trusts will continue to keep the community informed as and when updates are received, we appreciate there is very little information at this stage but please contact your local landowner with any comments or concerns you wish to be passed on.”
Points of contact:
UOG
Tel: 01851 850 393
Email: office@uogltd.com
NORTHLAND POWER
ScotWind Project Developer
grant.anderson@nothlandpower.com
ScotWind Community Liason Officer: eilidh.whiteford@northlandpower.com