FEATURE SPONSOR
POST CONSENT SUPPORT
ONSHORE CHALLENGES Although the challenges offshore are perhaps the most obvious, long onshore cable routes, raise a number of specific challenges…
• Archaeology – limited survey for consent application, potential for finds during pre-construction and construction, pre agreed investigation works (WSI) and stakeholder liaison
• Traffic and transport – is a key stakeholder concern particularly in rural areas where infrastructure may already be under pressure. It is important to keep the number of movements to the minimum required and optimise the design to reduce materials as well as look for innovative and sustainable solutions for worker travel. There could also be an impact on air quality and noise
• Reactive – in a dynamic environment things can change quickly and there is a need for quick response times to unexpected events especially during construction, whether a result of unexpected environmental conditions or equipment/infrastructure breakdowns. Marine licence variations can take time and good relationships with stakeholders and regulators are essential to speed up the process of paperwork
• Data management a key requirement – need to ensure that information is available and provided in format to help operators, contractors or stakeholders
CURRENT POST CONSENT PROJECTS RHDHV is currently providing post consent services for 3 offshore wind farms, each one has thrown up different challenges. These challenges are varied, technical and always breaking new ground, which is why our teams enjoy this type of work so much.
THANET OFFSHORE WINDFARM Finding ways of being able to predict and avoid protected Annex I reef habitat at Thanet Offshore Windfarm required accurate survey and mapping data coupled with clear understanding and engagement with the engineers and contractors.
It is however the onshore cable route where some of the technical challenges lie and our teams are advising on access and geotechnical investigations.
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES
In the 15 years that Royal HaskoningDHV have been providing support services to the offshore renewables industry we have seen very significant changes in the nature of the wind farms being developed and the consenting issues that must be addressed.
Our team advised on the necessary surveys and subsequent re-siting of turbines and cables and the creation of exclusion zones, which enabled construction to go ahead without delay. We are delighted that the wind farm is in the operational phase, we continue our commitment to the project providing post construction consent management and survey work.
DUDGEON OFFSHORE WIND FARM Royal HaskoningDHV is also the lead environmental consultant on the 400MW Dudgeon offshore wind farm since its inception in 2007. We are currently preparing for the construction phase with Statoil and Statkraft and are assisting with the design and management of pre-construction and construction work packages offshore and onshore including the 48km onshore cable route It is vital that all onshore and offshore consent conditions are met and we are ensuring the pre- construction survey program is proceeding well with adequate consultation with local stakeholders.
Larger sites further offshore raise challenges but we are also no longer working on projects in isolation. The southern North Sea has over 30 projects in various stages of development and it is these cumulative interactions between sites where the really tricky consenting issues are that are now featuring in consent conditions for UK and European offshore wind farms.
ENSURING LONG TERM OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE
We are very quickly moving towards having multi GW scale offshore wind developments. The challenges of ensuring the long term operation and maintenance of the offshore wind sector is safe effective and sustainable are significant, but we believe it is an exciting road ahead and Royal HaskoningDHV is determined to be a major part of it.
Alistair Davison
Development Director – Renewable Energy
Royal HaskoningDHV Click to view more info
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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