ScottishPower Renewables has commissioned Royal HaskoningDHV to assess the environmental impact of two large scale East Anglia Zone developments, the 700 MW and 800 MW offshore windfarms. The firm will monitor a range of key geological, ornithological and shipping data, the compiled data will form a key component in the planning application process.
ScottishPower Renewables is a subsidiary of global utilities giant Iberdrola. The subsidiary operates 30 windfarms across Scotland with a total generation capacity of 1,600 MW. The company is in particular focused on tapping into onshore and offshore wind potential, with a number of additional, large megawatt projects in the pipeline, including East Anglia Zone developments: East Anglia ONE, ONE NORTH, TWO and THREE offshore Windfarms, which will together generate more than 3500 megawatts on completion – enough for four million homes.
To assess the environmental impact of two of the new project locations, East Anglia ONE and TWO, ScottishPower Renewables has commissioned the services of Royal HaskoningDHV. The windfarms are considerable undertakings; East Anglia TWO is located 31 km from Lowestoft, and covers an area of 257 km2 while East Anglia ONE is 36 kilometres off the coast, covering an area of 209 km2.
The engineering consultancy firms is tasked with collecting a range of key data, including a full geophysical survey of the sites, aerial ornithological surveys, fisheries consultation and shipping monitoring. The data will form the basis for future planning applications for the project, which are expected to be made in 2018 and 2019. The contract is valued at £8 million.
Regarding the contract, Alistair Davison, Renewables Sector Director for Royal HaskoningDHV remarks that the firm is “delighted” to continue their relationship with ScottishPower Renewables. Adding, “We have successfully worked alongside the East Anglia THREE Team for the last three years and I feel the two new contracts are a testament to our commitment to the UK offshore wind industry. Royal HaskoningDHV’s offshore wind team is experienced in providing consenting, technical and engineering services to offshore wind projects having worked on 70% of major UK offshore wind development projects and successfully consented over 8000MW of offshore wind projects across Europe. We look forward to building on this track record in the East Anglia Zone – a hugely important development which could ultimately produce enough clean energy to power over 4 million homes.”
David Walker, Head of Offshore Development at ScottishPower Renewables, says, “As well as committing to invest £2.5 billion to build the East Anglia ONE project, this contract means that ScottishPower Renewables has now invested over £30 million to develop East Anglia THREE, TWO and ONE North. This is a major financial stake in the East Anglia region, and highlights our aspiration to fully unlock the environmental and economic benefits that will come from building up to 3,500MW of offshore wind power in the region."