11:30 - 13:00 Environmental case studies: global gain, no local pain!
Environmental impacts & social acceptance
Room: C 2.2
The session will explore case studies and experiences on environmental impacts and will draw lessons for similar projects. There will be a focus on repowering, environmental impact assessments and wildlife.
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Learning objectives
- List top tips for mitigating environmental impact;
- List approaches to optimise the Environmental Impact Assessment process;
- Identify opportunities and challenges moving forward.
Presenter
Co-authors:
John Woodruff (1) F
(1) Natural Power Consultants Ltd, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
Presenter's biography
Biographies are supplied directly by presenters at WindEurope Summit 2016 and are published here uneditedJohn Woodruff is a Chartered Surveyor with a strong background in environmental issues who joined Natural Power ten years ago to open their Welsh office. Successfully delivering a number of Welsh onshore wind farm projects through planning; he now jointly heads their UK Planning and Development Services team working on onshore, offshore, PV, hydro, and grid projects for various clients.
With 360 degree experience of project lifecycle, Natural Power are well placed to seek cost savings and project optimisation for clients, key to an unsupported market.
John is an active member of RenewableUK Cymru, previously serving as Chair.
Abstract
Environmental impact of repowering/refurbishing projects – optimising outcome in a levelised cost of energy marketplace
Introduction
Natural Power has lead the environmental impact assessment for repowering and tip height increase on projects in the UK and will present the approach to scoping and delivery as well as an overview of the holistic approach required for project optimisation.
Approach
In a Levelised Cost of Energy market, repowering an existing site, refurbishing an existing project with blade extensions or seeking to extend operational life of existing sites are all attractive options to explore. However, planning and environmental constraints and impact assessment will need to be handled as carefully as the technical engineering and financial modelling of a project, in order to achieve the required permitting of a workable project at a viable cost.
Main body of abstract
Older sites were often permitted with a considerably lower level of baseline environmental information and environmental guidance, best practice and consultee bodies’ concerns have changed greatly over the past few years. Bats and peat are classic examples of important environmental issues today that might have received negligible consideration when the existing project was permitted. Careful screening and scoping of environmental impact assessment requirements, methods and presentation is required to provide information to inform project design, provide consultee bodies with sufficient information to make a decision whilst managing a projects budget and timeline. A holistic approach to project lifecycle costs and opportunities is essential from the earliest stages of a repowering or refurbishing project to ensure a buildable, financeable and profitable project is permitted.
Conclusion
There is a need to understand not only the environmental impacts arising from a repowering or refurbishment project but also to ensure that a viable project is designed around the site constraints. Viability and optimisation of construction and operation costs are factors that need to be understood and acted on from the start of the process.
Learning objectives
An understanding of the environmental impact assessment required for repowering and refurbishment projects in the context of a levelised cost of energy marketplace.
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