Celtic Sea offshore wind: understanding cumulative effects assessment
As the number of offshore wind projects in waters around the United Kingdom increases, the issue of cumulative effects is becoming ever more relevant. This article explores challenges to consider in the Celtic Sea, but these learnings may apply industry-wide.
Emily King
What is Cumulative Effects Assessment?
UK regulations for Environmental Impact Assessment for offshore wind require that development is “considered with particular regard to .. the cumulation [i.e. combination] with other existing development and/or approved development”. Developers must assess the likely significant effects on the environment in their Environmental Impact Assessments.
The need to consider cumulative effects in planning and decision-making is also set out in the National Policy Statements (NPSs) for energy infrastructure. When weighing possible effects of development against its benefits, the Secretary of State is required to consider environmental, long-term and cumulative adverse impacts, “as well as any measures to avoid, reduce, mitigate or compensate for [these].”
Why are cumulative affects so relevant in the Celtic Sea?
Projects in the Celtic Sea are being developed within a period of rapid growth in the offshore wind sector. The three Celtic Sea Project Development Areas projects will be leased at the same time and so are likely to be developed concurrently. Further development of offshore wind projects in nearby waters includes Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4, ScotWind and the Maritime Area Consent regime in Ireland.
Celtic Sea development, like other recent leasing rounds, is set against a complex backdrop of other sea users who may be affected by the proposals (including commercial fisheries, oil and gas development, cables, pipelines, shipping, aggregates and disposal). The approach taken to cumulative effects assessment has therefore become increasingly important in recent leasing rounds.
What implications could cumulative effects have on a project?
Cumulative effects – and the way in which they are assessed – can lead to project risks.
- The worst-case scenario is that a project doesn’t win consent.
- Even if it does, the time it takes to work through issues alongside other projects/developers – instead of as a single project – can add to the consenting pre-application timeline, or delay consent determination.
- Onerous consent conditions required in order to mitigate effects may have programme and/or cost implications.
What are some possible solutions?
- Robust, proportionate assessment and a strong awareness of areas where cumulative effects are likely.
- There’s a need for all projects and developers to be engaged, willing to work together and proactive in resolving issues.
Read more about possible cumulative effect challenges for Celtic Sea projects
Taken in isolation, each of these areas needs careful consideration:
- Challenges related to floating offshore wind
- Ports
- Onshore cumulative effects
- Marine mammals
- Offshore ornithology
- Other marine users.
These six possible challenges are discussed in more detail in part two of this article. If you would like to learn more about them, complete the form for access to additional content, which will open in a new tab.
The abridged version of this article continues below.
3 key takeaways
- The offshore wind industry has continued to evolve in order to understand and address development effects. Now, it has reached the point where the combination of effects from different projects presents the “next big challenge” for the industry – which will continue as it grows.
- Offshore wind developers need to be highly aware of the touchpoints where cumulative effects are most likely to be an issue. These need robust yet proportionate assessment, matched by appropriate mitigations.
- There are a number of challenges where collaboration between different developers, projects and industries offers a way to mitigate against cumulative effects. Working together could become a repeated theme in finding the best solutions.
If you have questions about Cumulative Effects Assessment, please reach out to Emily King, Senior Associate Director - Offshore EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Project Management.
