Volume 2 Written Statement Full (PDF 4 MB) - Vattenfall

Environmental Report
Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm
Onshore Transmission Works
December 2012
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Introduction
1 This Environmental Report (ER) has been prepared by SLR Consulting Ltd
(SLR) to accompany a planning application for the Onshore Transmission
Works for the Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm (AOWF) (also known as the
European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC)) The ‘Proposed
Development’ is for onshore infrastructure above Mean Low Water Springs
(MLWS), namely the substation complex and underground cabling required to
facilitate export of power from AOWF to the national electricity transmission
system (NETS).
2 This ER reports the findings of an environmental assessment which has been
carried out to identify the potential significant effects of the Proposed
Development. A formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the
offshore elements of AOWF (up to Mean High Water Springs (MHWS) is
reported in the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre Environmental
Statement (ES) (July 2011) and Addendum (June 2012) which accompanied
the Section 36 and Marine Licence consent applications submitted to Marine
Scotland.
3 This proposal has been considered by the Aberdeenshire Council in
accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact
Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011, who have advised in their Scoping
Response “that this development would not require an EIA.” (November
2012). Notwithstanding, this Environmental Report (ER) has been written with
due regard to the Guidelines for EIA issued by IEMA in 2004, and with other
guidance documents as discussed within the relevant chapters.
4 This Environmental Report accompanies a planning application for the
Proposed Development, submitted to Aberdeenshire Council under The Town
and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997.
5 The process followed by AOWFL and its consultants ensures that all of the
potential impacts associated with design, construction, operation and
decommissioning have been identified and assessed and, where necessary,
appropriate mitigation strategies adopted. Monitoring of some of the
mitigation measures would continue during the operational phase of the
project.
1.2 The Proposed Development
6 The site of the Proposed Development (the Development Site) shown in
Figure 1-1 lies to the south-east of the village of Blackdog, approximately 4
km to the south of Balmedie and approximately 8 km north of Aberdeen city
centre, in the Aberdeenshire Council administrative area.
7 The Proposed Development consists of the following:
• Substation Compound, shown in Figure 5-1 and 5-2, comprising:
o Aberdeen Offshore Wind Farm Ltd (AOWFL) Substation
o Voltage Power Factor Control (VPFC) equipment area (if required)
o Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission (SHET plc) Substation
Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Page 6 of 211