Neart na GaoitheO� shore Wind Farm

Figure 1: Location of proposed Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm

Neart na Gaoithe Off shore Wind Farm In February 2009, Mainstream Renewable Power was awarded a licence to develop the Neart na Gaoithe

off shore wind farm. The proposed wind farm will be located approximately 15.5km from Fife Ness and 28km from

Thorntonloch Beach in East Lothian (Figure 1). The wind farm will be made up of 75 turbines rated at 6MW each.

Neart na Gaoithe will generate enough electricity to power more than 325,000 homes – equivalent to the number

of homes in Edinburgh.

Key facts

• Capacity: 450 megawatt (MW)

• Number of turbines: 75

• Maximum turbine height: 197 metres (m) (Figure 2)

• Site area: 105 km2

• Water depth: between 45m and 55m

Mainstream’s aim is to develop an environmentally and socially responsible

project. The Neart na Gaoithe site was chosen because it combines

technical, economic and environmental deliverability. The criteria which

formed part of the site selection process included; assessment of potential

human, biological and physical environmental sensitivities, water depth,

ground conditions, metocean conditions and more.

Turbines will be attached to the seabed using either steel jacket or gravity

base foundations. One off shore substation will be required within the wind

farm site.

Connection to the National Grid will be made at Crystal Rig wind farm in

Lammermuir Hills, East Lothian. It is anticipated that onshore construction

will start in 2015, with fi rst generation expected in 2017.

Glasgow Science Centre Tower 127m

London Eye 135m

6MW – Height to tip up to 197m

Average House 7m

Big Ben Tower 96.3m

Figure 2: Wind turbine dimensions compared to known landmarks

About Mainstream Renewable PowerMainstream Renewable Power is a global renewable energy company developing

over 17GW in onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks. In addition to the

Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, Mainstream is also developing the 1.2GW

Horizont project in Germany and the 6GW Hornsea zone in English waters as

SMart Wind – a 50/50 joint venture between Mainstream and Siemens.

Met mast at the 6GW Hornsea zone

Background to the ProjectIn 2008, Mainstream applied for a licence in The Crown Estate’s Scottish Territorial

Waters tender process to develop a site in Scotland in the outer Firth of Forth. In

February 2009, Mainstream was awarded the exclusive rights to develop this site,

Neart na Gaoithe (Gaelic for ‘Strength of the Wind’). A grid connection was secured

in 2010 and the Agreement for Lease was signed with The Crown Estate in 2011,

effectively securing an option for the rights to use the seabed.

Over the last number of years, Mainstream has developed the site

conducting extensive environmental studies and surveys, and has

undertaken community consultations in Fife, Angus and East Lothian.

Recent ProgressIn June 2013, Mainstream was granted onshore consent from East Lothian

Council for the onshore grid connection elements of the project. Neart na

Gaoithe was the first wind farm of those being developed in Scottish Waters

to gain detailed planning permission for a grid connection.

In July 2012 the offshore consent application was submitted to Marine

Scotland. Subsequently, an Addendum of Supplementary Environmental

Information was submitted to Marine Scotland in June 2013 and published

for consultation. This addendum includes a reduction in maximum turbine

numbers and increased minimum rotor heights. A decision on the offshore

consent application is expected in mid-2014.

About Mainstream Renewable PowerMainstream Renewable Power is a global renewable energy company developing

over 17GW in onshore and offshore wind farms and solar parks. In addition to the

Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm, Mainstream is also developing the 1.2GW

Horizont project in Germany and the 6GW Hornsea zone in English waters as

SMart Wind – a 50/50 joint venture between Mainstream and Siemens.

Electrical Transmission SystemThe turbines will be located over 35km from the grid

connection point at Crystal Rig in East Lothian and will be

connected via buried High Voltage Alternating Current

(HVAC) cables both offshore and onshore. Figure 3 below

shows the key components of an HVAC transmission system.

Within the wind farm, a number of ’inter-array’ cables will connect the

turbines to an offshore substation. ‘Export cables’ will be located between

the offshore substation and the landfall at Thorntonloch Beach in East

Lothian. Close to the landfall, the export cables will connect to onshore

cables which will be buried between the coast and a new substation,

located adjacent to an existing substation at Crystal Rig onshore wind farm.

Key components of HVAC transmission system

• Inter-array cables

• Offshore substation

• Export cables

• Onshore cables

• Onshore substation

Offshore substation

Figure 3: HVAC transmission system

Offshore Substation

Inter-Array CableExport Cable

Transition Pit

Onshore CableOnshore Cable

National GridSubstation

ExistingOverhead Line

OnshoreSubstation

North Sea

Onshore Grid ConnectionIn June 2013, Mainstream was granted planning consent by East Lothian Council for the

onshore works to connect the Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm to the National Grid.

The onshore grid connection comprises 12.3km of buried cable between

Thorntonloch Beach where the subsea cable is planned to reach shore,

and Crystal Rig onshore wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills, where the grid

connection would be made, Figure 4 shows the application boundary. The

consent includes a new substation (Figure 5) to be constructed at Crystal

Rig, adjacent to an existing substation.

Whilst there will be some visual impact and disturbance during the

construction phase, all land along the cable route will be restored to its

previous condition following construction.

Figure 5: Visual representation of the new substation.

Figure 4: Application boundary for the onshore works.

Offshore ConsentIn July 2012, an application was submitted to Marine Scotland, a department of the

Scottish Government, for consent of the offshore works. The submission was made

under the Electricity Act 1989 (section 36 Consent and the Marine Scotland Act 2010

(Marine Licence). The application was supported by an Environmental Statement (ES)

which sets out the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

An EIA is a well-defined process for identifying and assessing the potential

environmental effects of a proposed project. The emphasis is on avoiding,

reducing and offsetting potential effects through, for example, siting or

design of the project and the turbines.

Consultation and engagement with stakeholders is a critical aspect of the EIA

process. Throughout the EIA process and during the continuing design for

the proposed wind farm there has been extensive liaison with stakeholders

and interested parties. This has included meeting with regulatory and special

interest bodies on individual topics, such as commercial fisheries, as well as

more widely through public consultations and exhibitions.

In order to quantify the effects the proposed development may have, it is

necessary to understand the baseline conditions. Between 2010 and 2012

a number of surveys were carried out to better understand the existing,

physical, biological and human baseline conditions of the proposed wind

farm location and surrounding region. The findings of these baseline studies

were incorporated into the EIA. Figure 6 shows an example of a map used

to track harbour seals as part of the baseline data collection.

Figure 6: Harbour Seal Tracking Data

Offshore Physical Environment and ResourceTo understand the attributes of the offshore physical environment, Mainstream commissioned

both desk and field based studies to assess the wind resource, sea and weather conditions and

the seabed type and substrate.

Studies investigating the seabed ground conditions of the site were

undertaken; a geophysical assessment was carried out in August 2009 and

more in-depth geotechnical studies were undertaken in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Further in-depth geotechnical and geophysical surveys are taking place in 2014.

‘Metocean’ (meteorological and oceanographic) data was collected using a

number of metocean buoys deployed on and near the site. This informed

the physical processes modelling for the Environmental Statement.

The information gathered had specific reference to potential changes

to seabed forms and coastal processes.

The geology and sediments will not be changed by the proposed

development, so the assessment for the EIA concentrated on potential

impacts on the coastline, sandbanks and water quality. The modelling within

the physical processes study showed that the offshore infrastructure and

construction works would not cause any effects that reached the coastline.

Changes to the metocean conditions (water levels, currents and waves) due

to the presence of structures on the seabed may have the potential to alter

the sediment regime although modelling has suggested that such changes

would not be significant.

In April 2014, Mainstream deployed a floating LiDAR (FLiDAR) at the

offshore wind farm site. The technology is designed to capture valuable

hub height wind resource data and will remain on site for six to twelve

months in support of the

Neart project development.

The FLiDAR consists of

state-of-the-art measurement

equipment including a buoy

adapted leosphere LiDAR

mounted on a standard

marine buoy and powered

by its own renewable energy

system comprising solar

photovoltaic and wind power

technology.

FLiDAR installed at the Neart na Gaoithe site in April 2014

Offshore Biological EnvironmentThe proposed wind farm site does not overlap with any sites designated for their

nature conservation interest. Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand the biological

environment both within and surrounding the site and the potential impacts the

development may have on this and wider habitats and species.

Sites of Nature Conservation ImportanceThere are a number of inshore areas which are designated for their

conservation importance in the Firths of Forth and Tay. Neart na Gaoithe

does not physically encroach on any of these areas (Figure 7). However,

protected species such as birds or marine mammals from neighbouring

designated areas will use or transit through the proposed development site.

Using data from the bird and marine mammal observation studies,

Mainstream assessed the potential impacts on the qualifying species for

these designated sites.

Figure 7: Sites designated for nature conservation importance

Seabird and Marine Mammal SurveysMonthly boat-based bird and marine mammal studies were carried out for

three years between 2009 and 2012. This has allowed robust statistical

analyses to be undertaken to assess potential impacts that take account

of between–year variation in seabird and marine mammal numbers.

A total of 38 species of seabird were recorded within the Neart na Gaoithe

study area, with the three most common species being gannet, guillemot

and puffin. Highest numbers of gannets and puffins were recorded in the

summer months, while highest numbers of guillemots were recorded in

September and October.

Additional studies including bird and seal electronic tagging studies

were undertaken to help inform both the baseline studies and the impact

assessments.

Ten marine mammal species were recorded in the Neart na Gaoithe study area,

with harbour porpoise and grey seal being the most common species. Harbour

seals were also regularly recorded in lower numbers throughout the study.

Possible impacts on birds arising from the proposed development include

collision with turbines, displacement and barrier effects, where birds avoid

flying through the proposed development and have to fly further to go

around it. Detailed modelling has been carried out to predict impacts on

bird species and populations.

As a measure to reduce the potential for impact on seabirds, the maximum

number of turbines has been reduced from 125 to 75 and minimum rotor

heights have been increased to avoid more common flight heights for

some species.

Grey Seal Guillemots Kittiwake tagging

Benthic Ecology and Intertidal SurveysBenthic (seabed) and coastal/intertidal studies were carried out in summer

2009 to identify the existing species and habitat distribution. In general,

the benthic habitat of the proposed development area is the same as

that commonly found in the wider North Sea. The benthic ecology survey

observed typical mud and sand habitats with species found in the survey

area including brittle stars, coral, worms and crustaceans.

Impacts on the benthic environment include a degree of disturbance or

loss of benthic or seabed habitat, and other indirect impacts as a result

of localised changes to sediment concentrations, or introduction of new

material, for example. Given the tolerance and recoverability of the benthic

habitats and species found in the site impacts were not predicted to

be significant. Additionally, the habitats and species in the site are well

represented in the wider region and are not considered to be rare or unique

examples of benthic environments.

Fish and Fisheries StudiesMainstream carried out a desk study into fish and shellfish ecology and

commercial fishing practices in the area. This, combined with results from

the experimental trawls carried out in 2009, has identified fish species likely

to be present in the wind farm study area. This included an investigation

into nursery and spawning areas of key fish species.

The Neart na Gaoithe site and surrounding region supports a number of fish

and shellfish species, similar to those found in the wider Firth of Forth and

North Sea region. The site also supports some commercial species, such as

Nephrops (Norwegian lobster, known as ‘prawns’) and associated fisheries

such as trawling and creeling, though much higher intensity fishing grounds

are found outside the site boundary such as nearer the East Lothian

coastline. The site does not support species such as sand-eel due to the

type of sediment present.

Potential impacts are considered in the EIA for fish/shellfish species and

commercial fisheries. This includes direct impacts on species, through loss

of habitat and disturbance, such as through underwater noise generated

through installation, which can affect some fish species.

Seabed habitat - ‘Dead Mens Fingers’ Fishing Vessel

Offshore Human EnvironmentShipping and Commercial FishingConsidered in the broadest terms, the human environment encompasses

the visual, recreational and commercial amenity of the site. Both field and

desk based studies and an extensive consultation programme have been

undertaken with the shipping and fishing industries to determine favoured

shipping routes and the level of fishing activity and methods used within

and around the site and wider region.

Neart na Gaoithe was initially selected following early indications that

the main shipping routes bypass the site. Findings from a comprehensive

Automatic Information System (AIS) survey support these initial

conclusions. Figure 8 is a graphical representation of radar and AIS data

gathered on site over a period of 29 days between August to October 2010.

Consultation continues with fishermen and their representatives and Mainstream along with the other developers in the Firth of Forth have set

up a Fisheries Working Group with local fishing representatives to maintain

and improve communications with the fishing industry. Consultation has

identified the types of fishing as being predominantly Nephrops trawling

with a small volume of scallop dredging. Squid, a seasonal and sporadic

fishery, provides an alternative catch for Nephrops fishermen when

the squid are in the area. Along the cable route, lobster fishing using

creels is most common. Commercial fisheries may be impacted through

displacement, given the application of potential safety zones during

installation, however, after construction is complete there will be

no restrictions to access to the wind farm.Fishing Vessel

Figure 8: Map of shipping routes

Seascape, Visual, Archaelogy and Cultural HeritageA series of photomontages have been created to give an indication of

how the wind farm will look from a number of viewpoints along the east

coast (Figure 9 below). Consultation was undertaken with the local councils

and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to develop a comprehensive list with

appropriate viewpoint locations.

The archaeology considered within the Neart na Gaoithe offshore site

is broadly divided into two main areas: maritime archaeology such as

shipwrecks, and submerged prehistoric archaeology, which considers the

potential inhabitation of humans on land which is now submerged. Survey

data collected over the Neart na Gaoithe site provided a detailed picture of

the seabed topography, allowing archaeologists to better understand the

landscape below the sea.

The archaeological assessment has

identified a number of features. These include six wrecks of which the most

noteworthy are the remains of the

SS Einar Jarl and two First World War

K class submarines (Figure 10), which

sank in 1918. Archaeological features

have been assessed in greater detail

during the analysis of geophysical, geotechnical and video survey data.

No turbines will be located in the vicinity of protected wrecks.

Aviation and RadarAdditionally as part of the EIA, civil and military radar and aviation interests

were assessed, primarily via a desk based study and through ongoing

consultation with the Ministry of Defence, National Air Traffic Control

Services and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Figure 9: Photomontage from Fife Ness

Figure 10: First World War K-Class Submarine wreck.

Onshore EnvironmentAn application for planning permission to construct the onshore works between Thorntonloch

Beach and Crystal Rig was submitted to East Lothian Council in November 2012. As with

the offshore application it was accompanied by an Environmental Statement setting out the

findings of an EIA, which was carried out under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental

Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2011. Planning permssion was granted in June 2013.

Prior to commencing the EIA, consideration was given to a number of

options for the grid connection. Overhead lines were discounted due to

landscape and visual impacts. Following this, an extensive route selection

process was undertaken.

A summary of key aspects of the onshore EIA is as follows:

EcologyThe cable route was positioned to avoid sensitive habitats and protected

species. The cable route does not cross or pass within 100m of any

sites designated for nature conservation importance. Similarly there

are no areas of high ornithological interest within the construction

corridor. Environmental surveys were carried out within the cable

route corridor between May and September 2011. These included an

‘extended phase one habitats survey’, as well as protected species

surveys for great crested newts, breeding birds, badgers, otters,

water voles and bats. No protected species were identified within the

cable route corridor.

Agriculture and Land UseAs the proposed cable corridor crosses agricultural land, an assessment

of the potential effects on agricultural practices was undertaken as part

of the onshore EIA. This was informed by a desk study, field surveys and

land owner interviews. Other forms of land use such as recreation was also

considered.

Badger Cable laying

Construction NoiseAn assessment of potential noise impacts from construction was

undertaken, with particular consideration of potential impacts on nearby

residences. Noise monitoring locations were selected in agreement with

East Lothian Council to identify existing noise levels.

Cultural HeritageSeveral designated cultural heritage assets are present close to the

proposed cable route however none are located within the application

boundary therefore no impacts will occur in the long term. Trial trenching

will be undertaken prior to construction to determine whether any local

archaeology is present.

Landscape and VisualA full landscape and visual assessment was undertaken to identify how

views from residential properties and other viewpoints may be impacted

upon by the onshore works. As the cable will be positioned underground,

visual impacts will be limited once constructed. In order to minimise the

landscape and visual impact

during construction, sensitive

features such as trees and

hedgerows will be avoided where

possible. Whilst the substation

(Figure 11) will be visible from

surrounding viewpoints, no

properties overlook the site,

which is located adjacent

to existing wind farm and

transmission infrastructure.

Other topicsAdditional surveys and assessments have considered the potential

for impacts on water courses, flooding, geology, air quality, traffic and

socio-economic interests.

The Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm is the first project of those being

developed in Scottish Waters to gain detailed planning permission for a

grid connection

Cable Trench WorksFigure 11: Visual representation of the new substation.

ConstructionThe Neart na Gaoithe offshore wind farm will be built out in a number of stages. Construction of onshore

works will commence in 2015 while offshore works will commence in 2016.

1. Installation of turbine foundationThe final design for foundations is under discussion and will either be jackets

or gravity base.

If jackets are chosen then construction will start with the installation of four

jacket piles at each of the turbine locations. If gravity base are chosen then

the first step will be seabed preparation which includes the removal of all

soft sediment and seabed levelling.

Jacket foundation pile: large steel tube between 2.5m and 3.5m diameter,

up to 50m long.

Gravity base foundation pile: 25m – 45m in diameter.

2. Lifting of turbine foundationSteel jacket foundation: lattice support structure.

A large jack-up vessel will lift each of the foundations into place over the

pre-installed piles.

Gravity base foundation: will be floated out on special vessels and lowered

onto prepared seabed.

3. Installation of cablesA cable installation vessel will start the process of laying the arrays of

cables that will connect the turbines to the offshore substation. Specialist

equipment such as a cable plough may be used to cut a trench in the seabed,

lay the cable into the trench then backfill to cover the cable.

Array Cable: 33kV 630mm2 cross sectional area up to a depth of 3m –

up to 120km to be installed.

A cable installation vessel

4. Installation of turbinesA turbine installation vessel will transport several sets of turbine components

from the base port. A turbine is installed in several sections with the bottom

tower section being lifted into place and bolted to the transition piece on the

foundation. The nacelle is then bolted to the top piece of the tower. Each of

the three blades are lifted up to the nacelle hub in turn and bolted on. The

array cable is then connected to the turbine at the transition piece.

Tower: cylindrical steel sections – up to 90m tall.

Nacelle: contains the direct drive generator and all control systems –

up to 360 tonnes – 107.5m high (LAT).

Blades: 75m long Glass Reinforced Epoxy (GRE) – 3 blades per turbine –

18600m2 swept area.

5. Offshore substationAn offshore substation will be installed to coincide with the first turbines

being installed. The offshore substation consists of a jacket foundation and

a ‘topside’. The jacket foundation, a larger version of the turbine foundation,

will be installed in a similar way. The ‘topside’ is likely to be in excess of

2,000 tonnes and require a specialist heavy lift vessel. All of the array cables

will be routed to the offshore substation and connected into the electrical

equipment on the ‘topside’.

Offshore Substation: up to 60m high (LAT) – in excess of 2000 Tonnes –

33kV to 220kV transformers.

6. Export cablesTwo export cables will be installed from the offshore substation to land at

Thorntonloch Beach in East Lothian. They are larger versions of the array

cables and will be installed in a similar way. At the shore they are connected

to two onshore cables.

Export Cables: 220kV cables buried up to 3m – 33km to be installed.

7. Onshore infrastructureAll the onshore infrastructure will be installed with two cables in one trench

from Thortonloch Beach to Crystal Rig wind farm in the Lammermuir Hills.

An onshore substation will be built to allow the connection of the export

cables to specialist transformers to connect to the National Grid.

Onshore Infrastructure: 12.3km onshore cable 220kV

Onshore Substation with 220kV to 400kV transformers.

Project TimelineThe milestones within the scheduled timeline for the Neart na Gaoithe project are presented below:

2008 – Site selection

2009–

–

Licence awarded by The Crown EstateScoping Report submitted

2009-2012 – Site surveys underway

2010 – Grid connection agreed

2011 – Agreement for Lease received

July 2012 – Offshore consent application submitted

Nov 2012 – Onshore consent application submitted

June 2013 – Onshore consent awarded by East Lothian Council

2013/2014 – Detailed geotechnical surveys underway

Mid-2014 – Offshore consent expected

2015 – Onshore construction commences

2016 – Offshore construction commences

2017 – First generation

2018 – Completion

ConsultationConsultation has been a key element in the development of this project.

Mainstream has sought the views and inputs from all stakeholders and

other bodies as well as individuals to ensure they are fully aware of the

project and kept up-to-date with all aspects of its development.

Over the years, Mainstream has held a number of community consultation

meetings across the region and participated in a number of public events

on the east coast of Scotland (Fife, Angus and East Lothian) to publicise

the project and keep the public informed on the project development.

Meetings have also been held to inform interested groups such as natural

heritage bodies, commercial fishermen, community councils, surfers,

shipping representatives and recreational sea users of the project.

Economic OpportunitiesAs a project of national importance to Scotland, Neart na

Gaoithe has the power to create hundreds of jobs during

the construction phase and throughout the operation

of the wind farm.

Given the strong base of high quality engineering and related jobs already

clustered along the east coast of Scotland, Neart na Gaoithe is expected

to not only create new

opportunities but help sustain

and underpin a high quality

skills base in the east

of Scotland.

A number of large ports and

harbours on the east coast

of Scotland are well placed

to become a base for

construction activities.

There are also opportunities

for these ports or other

smaller harbours on the

east coast to locate bases

for ongoing operation and

maintenance services.

Scotland has world class expertise in offshore engineering through 40

years of oil and gas extraction. This experience makes Scotland’s workforce

ideally placed to develop a highly skilled offshore renewable energy

industry. In addition to Neart na Gaoithe, a number of offshore renewable

wind projects are proposed for the outer Firths of Forth, Tay and further

north in the Moray Firth. With the further potential for floating wind

technologies in deeper waters further offshore, this represents a major

opportunity for long term supply chain opportunities.

Register your interest as a supplier on the Neart na Gaoithe website at

www.nngsupplierdatabase.comTurbine installation

Turbine nacelle workers

Offshore Wind in ScotlandScotland has around a quarter of Europe’s potential offshore wind resource and

the Scottish Government has ambitious plans for renewable energy generation –

generating the equivalent of 100% of all Scotland’s electricity demand by 2020.

The Scottish Government has been working to identify opportunities for the

development of a long-term offshore renewable industry.

In 2011 the Scottish Government published its strategic plan for offshore

wind in Scottish Territorial Waters, ‘Blue Seas: Green Energy’. Its vision is

for the delivery of energy from offshore wind resources in Scotland up to

2020 and beyond whilst maximising the benefits for Scotland. It aims to

strike a balance between economic, social and environmental needs. Green

energy, reduced emissions and the provision of jobs in new industries are

just some of the benefits for Scotland from the development of offshore

wind farms.

The ‘Blue Seas: Green Energy’ plan was subject to a Strategic Environmental

Assessment (SEA) and of the ten sites originally identified for potential

development, five are now being taken forward. These five sites, which

include Neart na Gaoithe, were adopted in the final plan.

More information on the development of offshore wind around Scotland

can be viewed on the Scottish Government’s website. Sites currently being

taken through the consenting process in the Firth of Forth and Tay are

shown on Figure 12 overleaf.

Other Offshore Wind Farms in the RegionIn the Firth of Forth and Tay area, there are two wind farms proposed within territorial

waters (12 nautical miles (NM)), and a zone for potential developments beyond 12NM.

The Crown Estate (TCE) encouraged collaboration between offshore wind developers

to “address the issues arising as a result of the cumulative and combined benefits and

effects in the most efficient and effective manner.”

To achieve this, the Forth and Tay Offshore Wind Developers Group

(FTOWDG) was established. The group is chaired by TCE as an

independent adjudicator of which key developers in the area including

Mainstream Renewable Power are members. The developers meet

regularly and collaborate in data collection, survey methodology

and consultation exercises.

Figure 12: Map of Neart na Gaoithe wind farm and other wind farm locations in the area

Mainstream Renewable Power

3rd Floor, 2 West Regent Street,

Glasgow G2 1RW

Tel: +44 (0)141 206 3860

Email: info@neartnagaoithe.com

www.neartnagaoithe.com

By registering on the Neart na Gaoithe website,

you can select to receive project updates by email.