Tangy III Wind Farm proposal - SSE plcsse.com/media/232350/TANGY-III-Exhibition-Boards-FINAL.pdf · 2014-05-20 · A Scoping Report was submitted to statutory and non-statutory

Tangy III Wind Farm proposalOverview

This exhibition

Since 2012, we have been exploring the possibility of repowering

and extending the existing 18.7MW Tangy Wind Farm, situated

on the west coast of the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll and Bute.

Public exhibitions were held in the local community in August

2013 to gather views on our early stage proposals following initial

These are our second public exhibitions relating to these

proposals which aim to inform the local community or other

interested parties of the final design and to explain the next steps

in the application process.

Our exhibition boards show how the design has been developed 2013 to gather views on our early stage proposals following initial

feasibility works. We have since undertaken, detailed studies,

analysis and consultation, to inform the design of the wind farm.

Our exhibition boards show how the design has been developed

through earlier consultation and the environmental impact

assessment.

Site Location

SSE Renewables

We are the renewable energy development division of SSE, operating mainly in the UK and Ireland. SSE is one of the largest energy

companies in the UK and is the largest generator of renewable energy in the UK and Ireland. Our core purpose is to provide the energy

people need in a reliable and sustainable way. Headquartered in Perth, Scotland, we employ around 19,000 people operating across

Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

We are involved in the generation, transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and the production, storage, distribution and supply

of gas with around 13,000MW of generation capacity. SSE Renewables is responsible for identifying and developing new renewable

energy generation projects such as Tangy III.

©Crown Copyright and database rights 2014 Ordinance Survey 10034870

The development process

Site selectionConsideration of a wide range of criteria including wind speed,

access, grid connection, landscape, environmental and recreational

CONSULTATION PROCESS PUBLICATION

Tangy III Wind Farm proposal

access, grid connection, landscape, environmental and recreational

designations, site topography and hydrology.

Surveys underway since Spring 2012 and meteorological masts

have been operational since July 2013.

Public consultation

and first exhibition.We held our first, early

development stage, local

public exhibitions on 27

August 2013.

ScopingA Scoping Report was submitted to statutory and non-statutory

consultees on 28 June 2013.

Responses and feedback help to define the scope of the

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Scoping Report

Environmental Statement (ES)The results of environmental surveys, desk based assessments and

consultation is assessed in line with the scope of the EIA to inform

the final site layout.

This information is then presented within an ES which supports the

planning application when it is submitted to the relevant

determining authority.

Second public

exhibitionThe second local exhibition

is held to present the final

site design ahead of

submission of the planning

application.

We are here

Submission of applicationThe planning application and supporting ES will be submitted to

the determining authority who will consult with statutory and

non-statutory consultees before deciding on consent.

Copies of the application and the ES will be sent to consultees

(including local community councils). The information will be

made available for public viewing during the statutory consultation

period.

Consideration & determination of application

The application will be assessed against planning and energy

policies, together with consultee and community feedback.

The relevant determining authority will meet to decide if consent

should be granted, taking into account the recommendation of the

planning officer.

Statutory consultation

The determining authority

will undertake a statutory

consultation period where

consultees, community

councils, local people and

other interested parties

have the opportunity to

comment on our proposed

application.

Comments are made

directly to the determining

authority.

Planning Application and

Environmental Statement

Further information

(if requested)

The existing Tangy Wind Farm consists of 22 turbines each with 0.85MW capacity. The original site (Tangy I) made up of 15

turbines was consented in February 2002 followed by consent for another 7 turbines (Tangy II) given in August 2005. The current

consent expires in August 2022.

The proposed development has been designed to utilise the important resource at Tangy of a high wind speed over coastal

moorland, combined with the benefits of using an existing wind farm site and associated infrastructure. With such a good wind

The proposal

Background


moorland, combined with the benefits of using an existing wind farm site and associated infrastructure. With such a good wind

resource, but with ageing turbines, we have been assessing options for the site. Options considered, included extending the site or

‘re-powering’ it with modern, more efficient turbines delivering up to 54.4MW.

We would like the opportunity to increase the efficiency of the current wind farm through replacement of the existing turbines.

Turbine technology has significantly advanced since Tangy I and II became operational, with early turbine models having been

superseded by much more efficient machines.

Wind Farm Components

In addition to the 16 proposed turbines, we are seeking consent for

the following:

• Removal of commercial forestry;

• Removal of existing wind turbines and external transformers;

• Ground reinstatement where old turbines are removed;

• Site access tracks and passing bays (of which 8.4km are new

access tracks and 3km are upgrades to existing tracks);

• A permanent meteorological mast;

• A substation and operations control building with parking and

welfare facilities;

• A network of underground cabling;

The Tangy timeline

Tangy wind farm

Tangy I consented

15 x 0.85MW turbines

(12.75MW total capacity)

Tangy II consented

+ 7 x 0.85MW turbines

(now 18.70 MW total capacity)

Tangy III constructed (if consented)

16 x turbines (each up to 3.4MW)

(up to 54.4MW total capacity)

Tangy III

Development Proposal

(Submission date TBC)

Existing Tangy

Consent expires

August 2022

Tangy I

FEB 2002

Tangy II

AUG 2005

Tangy III

2015 - 20182012 - 2014

We are

here

Tangy III operational for 25 years (if consented)

• A network of underground cabling;

• Temporary construction compound and laydown areas;

• A concrete batching plant;

• Temporary telecoms infrastructure; and

• Borrow pits to provide stone for construction. Tangy Wind Farm

Scoping

In June 2013, the proposal was submitted for scoping displaying

and indicative site boundary only, as a turbine layout was still in

development at this stage.

Design evolution


Additional information gathered during the scoping stage

included hydrological, geological, ornithological, cultural heritage

and ecological considerations, which all contributed to the

development of early designs.

Second design iteration

This design consisted of 19 turbines, with a 101m rotor diameter

and up to 135m tip height.

Following the scoping stage, comments received from consultees

and feedback from public exhibitions was taken into consideration

and the design was updated to take into account:

• Technical considerations, for example access track gradients and

ground conditions, in particular the presence and depth of peat.

• Further ecological data from surveys, including the location of

sensitive habitats and the presence of protected species.

• Landscape considerations relating to the potential visibility from

key viewpoints.

Turbines at Hadyard Hill

key viewpoints.

• Potential locations for onsite borrow pits were also considered

at this stage.

Final design iteration

The design has been reduced to 16 turbines by removing 3 of the

most westerly turbines, primarily due to landscape and visual

considerations.

This design also uses as much of the existing infrastructure as is

practicable. It also includes hard standings, borrow pits, welfare

facilities and a substation.



Access


Grid connection

Power generated from the turbines would be transferred via underground

cables to the on-site substation.

The connection to the National Grid, outwith the site, falls under a

separate application process and requires the network provider (in this

case Scottish Power) to determine the most appropriate method for

onward transmission from the re-powered wind farm.

The construction and operational access to the re-powered site would be

the same as is currently used for the existing site.

This route is along the A83 to the south of the site and connects to

Campbeltown and the B842 and B843 roads. It is envisaged that the

turbine components would be delivered to the port facilities at

Campbeltown and transported via the A83 to the site.

The B843 provides access to Machrihanish and to Wind Towers (Scotland)

Limited, where it is proposed that turbine towers will be transported from

for delivery to the proposed development..

Tower work at Wind Towers (Scotland) Ltd

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been undertaken to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of the

proposed Tangy III Wind Farm. The information gathered through the EIA process has helped to shape the design and layout of the

proposed Wind Farm and any required mitigation measures.

Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental considerations


OrnithologyOrnithology

Ecology

Since early 2013 a range of field surveys have been undertaken

to establish baseline conditions on-site in order to assess likely

disturbance, displacement, collision risk and barrier effects to

species of high conservation value or sensitivity to wind farms.

A range of species identified within the site area include

greenland white-fronted geese, graylag geese, peregrine falcon,

merlin, hen harrier, short-eared owl and herring gull.

Survey results and subsequent assessment have indicated that

there are no significant impacts on identified species.

Habitat and protected species surveys have been undertaken

within the site and were completed at the end of 2013.

The presence of otter, water vole, pine marten, wildcat, adder,

great crested newts and bats, amongst others, were surveyed for

within the site and the surrounding area. A range of habitats are

present including woodland plantation, rush pasture, grasslands

and mire communities.

Other environmental aspects

and mire communities.

There are no statutory ecological designations on site. Tangy

Loch SSSI is located within 100m and Machrihanish Dunes SSSI is

located over 2km away.

Assessments to date have indicated that there are no significant

impacts on protected species and habitats.

The EIA includes consideration of potential effects on traffic and

transport; noise; peat stability; cultural heritage;

telecommunications; aviation and other infrastructure.

Assessments were also undertaken on land-use; tourism and

recreation; hydrology; socio-economics; shadow flicker; climate

and carbon emissions.

Graylag goose

Otter

Landscape and visual assessment


The landscape and visual assessment examines the potential visual effects associated with the presence of wind turbines and other

site infrastructure and includes temporary construction features such as construction compounds. Based on the findings of the

landscape and visual assessment, it is considered that the landscape has the capacity to accommodate a development of the scale

proposed.

The completed site survey data was fed into the site design allowing us to create a computer generated model of how the wind farm

will look from chosen viewpoints.

If you wish to view a computer generated 3D visualisation of how the final wind farm design will look from specific viewpoints, such

as residential properties, please ask a member of the project team. We are able to generate a model of the wind farm from

viewpoints as far away as 35km.

The Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV), illustrated below, shows the indicative theoretical visibility of the proposed turbine layout

based on bare ground (i.e. There are no screening effects such as trees, vegetation or buildings) up to 35 km from the site, and

represents a worst case scenario.


The Environmental Impact Assessment is nearing completion and we anticipate that an application will be submitted to the

determining authority in June 2014. The application will be widely publicised, notifying interested parties of the opportunity to make

representations, and the process for doing so.

Following the statutory consultation period, the determining authority will assess the application against planning and energy policy.

All consultee representations will be considered (including comments from the local community). A recommendation will then be

What happens next?

Next steps


All consultee representations will be considered (including comments from the local community). A recommendation will then be

made regarding the determination of the application.

Commenting on the proposals

The consultation period for formal representations will open when

the application is submitted and advertised. At this time details on

how to make representations about the proposal will be

published. Depending on the final application detail , the

determining authority will be either:

The Scottish Government, Energy Consents Unit,

4th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay,

150 Broomielaw,

Glasgow,

G2 8LU

OR

Argyll & Bute Council

Planning and Building Standards

1A Manse Brae,

Lochgilphead,

For further information, please contact our Project Liaison

Manager:

Noel Cummins

SSE Corporate Affairs

Inveralmond House

200 Dunkeld Road

Perth

PH1 3AQ

(E): [email protected]

(T): 01738 516901

We will update the project website with information as it becomes

available : www.sse.com/tangyIII

Project contact

Hadyard Hill wind farm

Lochgilphead,

PA31 8RD

Representation must be dated and clearly state the name (in block

capitals) and full return email or postal address of those making

representations. Representations should also identify the proposal

you are writing about and specify the grounds for representation.

Tangy wind farm Tangy wind farm


Local opportunities

Our approach is to ensure that as many local businesses and people as possible benefit from the opportunities our new wind

developments bring with them. Throughout the development and construction phase, and from time to time afterwards, we will look

to utilise the services and skills of local businesses which ensures that our projects have a lasting positive effect in the local area.

If our proposal is granted planning permission, and prior to construction beginning, we will hold a ‘meet the buyer’ event where we invite

local businesses and suppliers to meet our construction team and the appointed Principal Contractor in order to offer their services.

As well as direct employment, our experience shows that other local businesses such as accommodation providers, shops and suppliers

In 2013 we increased our stakeholding in Machrihanish based

Wind Towers (Scotland) Ltd to 81%, underlining our commitment

to ensuring that this business and investment stays in Scotland

and, specifically, Argyll and Bute.

As well as direct employment, our experience shows that other local businesses such as accommodation providers, shops and suppliers

benefit directly particularly during the construction phase of our projects.

Once the wind farm is operational there may be opportunities for local businesses to undertake maintenance work across the site which

could include the provision of plant or materials, fencing and drainage work, road repairs and building maintenance.

SSE Open4BusinessLocal supply chain

Tangy wind farm

To contribute to the economic well-being of the Highlands and

Islands community (under which Argyll & Bute is included) we

have developed the SSE Open4Business Highlands and Islands

web portal.

Our intention is to procure the towers for all of our future Scottish

wind farms from Wind Towers, including those required for Tangy

III.

Today there are around 130 employees at the factory, many of

whom have been recruited from the local area.

Open4Business facilitates trade and engagement between SSE and

local suppliers and service providers, providing a platform for SSE

to promote any opportunities originating in the region.

For more information about how you or your team might benefit

please speak to one of our team or visit the portal;

www.sseopen4business-highlands.com/

Living WageIn September 2013, SSE became one of the UK’s biggest Living Wage employers guaranteeing its staff at least the Living Wage, which

experts believe meets the cost of housing, food, bills and work travel costs.

From April 2014, we have extended that guarantee so that every service or works contract tendered will have an obligation for the

contractor to pay at least the Living Wage.

The development, consent and construction of a wind farm brings with it opportunities for employment, local business opportunities

and other benefits such as improvements to roads and other infrastructure. However, we recognise that our developments should also

bring more direct financial benefits to the communities that host them.

Community Investment Funds

Investing in the community


We were one of the first developers to pay £5,000 p/MW in line with

the Scottish Government's current guidance on the recommended

level of Community Benefit from onshore renewable projects.

Since January 2012 , for all our new wind farms, we have been paying

£2,500 per installed MW to support the aspirations of local

community groups and organisations and placing a further £2,500

per installed MW into Sustainable Development Funds which aim to

support the aspirations of groups and organisations within the local

authority area.

Our community investment fund packages are voluntary payments

made during the lifetime of new operational wind farms.

The funds do not form part of any planning application and are not

considered during, or as part of, the planning consent determination

For over ten years now we have established funds to enable communities near our new renewable energy projects to develop

sustainably by funding charitable and community initiatives.

In Great Britain, since 2002 we have supported over 1,000 community projects with grants totalling over £13 million.

Our current policy

considered during, or as part of, the planning consent determination

process.

You can find our more about our community funds by asking a

member of the team or visiting:

www.sse.com/community/communityfunds/

Tangy 2 Community Benefit Fund

Through our Tangy 2 wind farm fund we provide around £7,500 per

year to community and charitable groups within the community

council areas of:

• Campbeltown

• East Kintyre

• The Laggan

• West Kintyre

• Southend

To find out more about applying for funding, please contact your

community council directly.

Documents

Tangy III Wind Farm proposal - SSE plcsse.com/media/232350/TANGY-III-Exhibition-Boards-FINAL.pdf · 2014-05-20 · A Scoping Report was submitted to statutory and non-statutory