The Crown Estate Energy & Infrastructure Portfolio Wave...

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The Crown Estate Energy & Infrastructure Portfolio Wave and Tidal Programme

Summary Report on Wave & Tidal Demonstration Zone Identification Process

September 2013

Contents A. Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 3

B. Introduction to zones .......................................................................................................................... 3

B.1. Purpose and objectives of defining zones ................................................................................... 3

B.2. How zones will be used in leasing process .................................................................................. 3

B.3. Zone definition process and stakeholder engagement ............................................................... 4

C. Description of zones ........................................................................................................................... 7

C.1. Overview ...................................................................................................................................... 7

C.2. England ...................................................................................................................................... 10

C.3. Wales ......................................................................................................................................... 14

C.4. Scotland ..................................................................................................................................... 15

D. Next steps ......................................................................................................................................... 18

D.1. Further information which The Crown Estate will share with bidders in leasing process ........ 18

D.2. What successful bidders will do post leasing process ............................................................... 18

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Tables:

Table 1: Criteria to identify wave demonstration zones

Table 2: Criteria to identify tidal current demonstration zones

Table 3: Portland Bill zone

Table 4: North Cornwall zone

Table 5: North Devon zone

Table 6: South Pembrokeshire zone

Table 7: West Anglesey zone

Table 8: Isle of Islay zone

Table 9: Isle of Harris zone

Figures:

Figure 1: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones across the UK

Figure 2: Technical characteristics of demonstration zones

Figure 3: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off England

Figure 4: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off Wales

Figure 5: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off Scotland

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A. Overview This report gives details of the seabed areas which The Crown Estate has defined as demonstration

zones for the leasing process for wave and tidal test and demonstration projects from 2013

onwards. The purpose and objectives of defining the zones is described, along with an explanation of

how these zones will be offered for development. The zone locations are illustrated by a series of

maps, each with a table of characteristics, features and other information which describe the zones.

Finally, subsequent steps in the leasing process are outlined, along with how the information

provided during the process will be used.

B. Introduction to zones

B.1. Purpose and objectives of defining zones The Crown Estate has identified a set of seabed areas which are suitable for wave and tidal current

test and demonstration activities in order to help the industry to accelerate these activities. This is

in view of the fact that testing and demonstration are in the critical path to realisation of commercial

wave and tidal projects, including those at sites already leased and those which The Crown Estate

may lease in future. To date, some testing and demonstration projects have been delayed because

the sites at which they are planned have been found less suitable than expected.

The Crown Estate’s work in defining the zones is supplemental to, rather than in replacement of,

project developers’ activities in prospecting sites, and the leasing process will allow developers to

propose sites outside zones as well as within. The Crown Estate is encouraging developers to

consider projects within these zones, given these have been identified on the basis of offering

suitable physical characteristics (including resource conditions) and other attributes necessary for

test and demonstration projects to be successful.

B.2. How zones will be used in leasing process From September 2013 to April 2014, The Crown Estate will run a leasing process which makes

reference to the demonstration zones. This process will be repeated from September 2014 to April

2015.

The zones will be referenced in two ways:

Project Developers will be invited to bid for sites within the demonstration zones to conduct test

and demonstration activities; and in parallel

Other organisations (public or private sector organisations), known as Third Party Managers, will

be invited to bid to manage the zones on behalf of The Crown Estate; and, if they wish,

undertake preparatory work, such as installing infrastructure, to make the zones attractive for

use.

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At the end of the leasing process:

If a Third Party Manager is awarded a lease for a demonstration zone, then the demonstration

zone will define the boundary of the seabed area which it is able to manage and develop. If no

third party manager is appointed for a zone, then the zone will remain defined but will have no

particular significance in contractual terms; and

The Crown Estate expects that Project Developers and Third Party Managers will discuss with

stakeholders some of the factors which may affect development in the zones, as part of the

process they undertake to develop projects (e.g. as related to environmental impact

assessment).

B.3. Zone definition process and stakeholder engagement

During 2013, The Crown Estate has developed the concept of demonstration zones and specific

criteria to identify zones, plus defined a set of zones based on these criteria. This has been based on

a combination of analysis by The Crown Estate, drawing on inputs from organisations with statutory

responsibilities for marine spatial planning, and a stakeholder engagement exercise.

The analysis was founded on work previously undertaken by The Crown Estate to identify Key

Resource Areas for wave and tidal energy. Reports about this are available to download from The

Crown Estate website1. The analysis was also informed by the industry engagement exercise about

further wave and tidal leasing which we undertook during 2012.

In order to guide how demonstration zones should be defined, we set the following principles:

Zones should have appropriate energy resources and other physical characteristics, including

proximity to infrastructure, suitable for proving technologies;

Zones should be located in regions which developers and other stakeholders have indicated are

of interest, i.e. where demand for test and demonstration opportunities exists; and

Zones should be in places which complement, but do not impede, development of commercial

wave and tidal energy projects2.

We then defined a set of technical criteria, concerning energy resource characteristics, water depth

and distance from shore, as set out in Tables 1 and 2. Notably, the criteria are intended to allow for

a variety of technologies under development, across a range of technology readiness levels.

1 See http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-media/news/2012/new-report-shows-extent-of-uk-wave-and-tidal-resources/ and http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/wave-and-tidal/publications/ 2 This includes avoiding the two strategic areas previously identified for commercial-scale wave and tidal current project development: the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters strategic area (north Scotland) and the Rathlin Island and Torr Head strategic area (Northern Ireland).

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-media/news/2012/new-report-shows-extent-of-uk-wave-and-tidal-resources/http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/energy-infrastructure/wave-and-tidal/publications/

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Characteristic Criteria Notes

Distance from shore Minimum: 0 km Maximum: 12 km

Test and demonstration activities need to be within reasonable steaming distances of port infrastructure for construction and on-going operational and maintenance (O&M) access

Water depth Minimum: 10 m Maximum: 70 m

Whereas wave technologies designed for near shore sites require relatively shallow waters, those designed to operate offshore need deeper water.

Cost and access considerations are limiting factors

Wave resource level, annual mean power density

Minimum: 15 kW/m Maximum: 25 kW/m

Demonstration sites should be representative of the types of resource required to operate technologies at a commercial scale

Tidal resource level, mean spring peak current

Minimum: 0 m/s Maximum: 1.5 m/s

It is preferable to test and demonstrate wave energy technologies in places which either negligible or low speed tidal currents.

Table 1: Criteria to identify wave demonstration zones

Characteristic Criteria Notes

Distance from shore Minimum: 0 nm Maximum: 12 nm

Test and demonstration activities need to be within reasonable steaming distances of port infrastructure for construction and on-going operational and maintenance (O&M) access

Water depth Minimum: 5 m Maximum: 40 m

Tidal current technologies currently under development can operate across a range of water depths

Shallow water sites may be appropriate for some types of installation, where as other require deeper water, limited by considerations of cost and access

Tidal current resource level, mean spring peak current

Minimum: 1.5 m/s Maximum: 2.5 m/s

Demonstration sites should be representative of the types of resource required to operate technologies at a commercial scale

Table 2: Criteria to identify tidal current demonstration zones

Using MaRS, The Crown Estate’s marine spatial planning system, we then identified a set of

candidate areas for demonstration zones. These were discussed at workshops with UK and

Devolved Government bodies to establish a first draft of demonstration zones. We subsequently

held a stakeholder engagement exercise on the zones (advertised via invitation and on our website3)

that set out our approach to engaging with ‘core’ organisations (including Government and

regulators) and registered organisations.

The process for engagement can be summarised as follows:

Workshops were held with UK and Devolved Government bodies on the development of the first

draft demonstration zones (end of June 2013);

A slide pack (containing draft demonstration zones) and questionnaire was circulated to all ‘core’

organisations and registered ‘interested’ organisations, with a response deadline of 21 August

2013;

‘Core’ (and were requested, ‘interested’) organisation meetings were set up to discuss progress

to date and enable them to inform the process in more detail;

3 Details about the engagement process can be found on our website: http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-media/news/2013/information-sought-on-offshore-test-and-demonstration-leasing-processes/

http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-media/news/2013/information-sought-on-offshore-test-and-demonstration-leasing-processes/http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/news-media/news/2013/information-sought-on-offshore-test-and-demonstration-leasing-processes/

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Information gathered in meetings and via the questionnaires was collated for each draft

demonstration zones in an aggregated way and used to inform the final demonstration zones

included in this Annex;

Registered ‘informed’ organisations have been kept up to date on the leasing process via email.

33 organisations (‘core’ and ‘interested’) provided written responses to this consultation and 12

attended five workshops we organised in particular interest areas (e.g. navigation).

Along with the information collated from organisations via meetings and questionnaire responses,

existing knowledge of the zone geographies was combined in order to review the aggregated

information for each zone. Final recommendations as to which zones should be kept, refined or

removed were based on this information and final demonstration zones as part of the leasing

material which will be issued to applicants (see ‘Next Steps’ section below).

Demonstration zones and marine spatial planning The demonstration zones are intended as a guide to help the industry identify areas of seabed which are suitable for wave and tidal current test and demonstration activities. In support of this, The Crown Estate is undertaking a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) in parallel with the leasing process. The Crown Estate reserves the right to modify or withdraw any of the zones subject to the outcomes of the HRA. It is important to note The Crown Estate is not the regulator and other organisations have responsibilities for granting statutory consents for test and demonstration projects. It is expected that after the leasing process, developers will undertake project Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and make consents applications to the relevant regulators and we cannot pre-judge the outcomes of these processes. In Scottish waters, the demonstration zones have been aligned with Marine Scotland’s planning process and are adjacent to draft wave and tidal option areas which Marine Scotland has developed as part of this. Other relevant marine plans, policies and assessments have also been considered during development of the zones, including:

Strategic Environmental Assessments (across the UK);

The Marine Management Organisation’s Strategic Scoping Report (covering England);

The Marine Renewable Energy Strategic Framework (MRESF) for Wales; and

The former South West England Regional Development Agency’s Offshore Renewables Resource Assessment and Development (ORRAD) project.

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C. Description of zones

C.1. Overview The following section provides an overview of each region of the UK, and highlights the proposed

zones which have been identified for development potential. Detailed information on the proposed

zones follows under sections C2-4.

Seven demonstration zones have been defined across the UK:

Four of the zones are in places with tidal current resources, while the other three have wave

resources;

Two are in waters off Scotland, two off Wales and three off England.

Of wave and tidal current resources, waters off Northern Ireland primarily offer tidal resources;

however, based on the technical criteria used, these are limited compared to other parts of the UK.

Because of this, no demonstration zone was defined off Northern Ireland4.

A map showing the locations of the zones across the UK is given in Figure 1, and data showing

certain technical characteristics are presented in Figure 2.

4 It should be noted, however, that this does not preclude development of test and demonstration projects in waters off Northern Ireland, since project developers may apply for project sites outside demonstration zones across the UK.

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Figure 1: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones across the UK

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Figure 2: Technical characteristics of demonstration zones

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C.2. England Three zones have been defined off the southwest of England as follows: North Devon, North

Cornwall and Portland Bill. Their locations are shown in Figure 3.

Tables 3 to 5 give details of the zones, including their technical characteristics and factors which may

affect development, construction and operation of wave and tidal current energy test projects.

Figure 3: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off England

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Portland Bill Tidal current demonstration zone, England

Technical characteristics

Area of seabed: 19 km2

Distance from shore (minimum - maximum): 3.2 km - 9.8 km

Mean water depth: 27.6 km

Mean tidal current resource level (mean spring peak current): 1.6 m/s

Mean wave resource level (annual mean power density): 8.6 kW/m

Factors which may affect test and demonstration projects

Grid access: There is potential for up to 90 MW capacity, with onshore infrastructure in close proximity.

Navigation: Shipping traffic comes out of Weymouth to the Channel Islands and local traffic (including recreational yachting) navigates close to shore. The zone is partially within an Oil & Gas Licensing Block (97/14). The Zone is adjacent to the buffer for the proposed France, Alderney and Brittany (FAB) interconnector cable.

Environment: There is a high number of scheduled monuments and listed buildings on the Isle of Portland. There is a number of known undesignated wrecks in named locations on nautical charts, and high potential for recovery of archaeological remains plus important environmental evidence about submerged landscapes. The water quality has a "Good Potential" rating under the Water Framework Directive obligations (current ecological quality & 2015 predicted ecological quality).

The Zone is close to the Isle of Portland Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); within an area of search for a potential Special Protected Area (SPA) for birds; and adjacent to Studland to Portland Special Area of Conservation (SAC) designation. Lyme Bay is a habitat for white-beaked dolphins, and several species of fish pass through the zone area. The zone is also close to a recommended protection designation the South Dorset recommended Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ) 6.5km south of zone. The South of Portland Bill recommended Reference Area (3.5 km east) was also considered but has not currently been taken forward by the UK Government.

Fishing: The broader area is fished inshore from Weymouth and activity here includes potting, netting, and a line-caught bass fishery.

Defence: The Zone is close to the MOD acoustic range facility at Portland Bill.

Recreation: Recreational diving takes place around the area.

Table 3: Portland Bill zone

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North Cornwall Wave demonstration zone, England




Mean water depth: 30.2 m




Grid access: There is potential for up to 90 MW capacity, but the distance to onshore infrastructure (subsea cable lengths) will need to be considered.

Navigation: There is minimal commercial traffic but smaller vessels navigate the area.

Environment: There are no designated wrecks within or in close proximity to the Zone, but there are some undesignated wrecks and other recorded losses in the area, particularly close to the shore and around Godrevy Island. There are a number of coastal scheduled monuments and listed buildings situated along the coastline. There is also potential for palaeo landscape archaeology to be discovered in the intertidal and marine zone. Godrevy Head is a regionally important haul out for grey seals. There are some coastline and cliff designations including Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Aire Point to Carrick Du Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Fishing: The area north of St Ives is fished with both pots and nets at various times of the year, by fishing vessels smaller than 12m in size, from St Ives, Hayle and Newquay.

Recreation: In the vicinity are a number of key surfing locations including Gwithian, Godrevy and Portreath.

Table 4: North Cornwall zone

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North Devon Tidal current demonstration zone, England








Grid access: There is potential for up to 90 MW capacity, but the distance to onshore infrastructure (subsea cable lengths) will need to be considered.

Navigation: Coastal and leisure navigation occurs to/from Ilfracombe. Most commercial traffic passes north of Horseshoe Rocks Light Buoy and clear of the zone area.

Environment: Waters around Ilfracombe have a particularly high potential for recovery of previously unidentified vessels (undesignated wrecks). A small number of scheduled monuments and listed buildings are located along the coast adjacent to the zone. There is significant potential for discovery of palaeo landscape archaeology in the marine and intertidal area. There are also several coastal designations, including: North Devon Biosphere Reserve, North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and North Devon Heritage Coast. Protected species include fish, seabirds, grey seals and cetaceans (including harbour porpoise). The zone overlaps with an area recommended as a Marine Conservation Zone; this has not been taken forward by Government in a first tranche of such protected areas. The water quality status (under the Water Framework Directive obligations) is a relevant consideration.

Fishing: Area to the west of the Zone is an inshore fishery for local crab and lobster potting from Ilfracombe and nearby landings.

Table 5: North Devon zone

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C.3. Wales The two zones off Wales are South Pembrokeshire and West Anglesey, as shown in Figure 4. Tables 6 and 7 give details.

Figure 4: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off Wales

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South Pembrokeshire Wave demonstration zone, Wales








Grid access: There is potential for up to 100MW capacity, with a nearby connection point available.

Navigation: The zone includes some existing routes for recreational vessels. A small number of commercial vessels (oil tankers) use the area to wait for access to Milford Haven.

Environment: There are multiple onshore designations to protect the landscape, habitats and some species along the Pembrokeshire coastline (including a National Park). The zone is in close proximity to an offshore Special Area for Conservation (an environmental designation for mobile species and habitat).

Fishing: Local fleet may operate in the area.

Defence: The zone is adjacent to the Castlemartin and Manorbier Sea Danger Areas.

Recreation: Surfing and associated tourism are recognised activities off the Pembrokeshire coastline.

Table 6: South Pembrokeshire zone

West Anglesey Tidal current demonstration zone, Wales








Grid access: There is the potential for up to 100MW capacity, with a nearby connection point available.

Navigation: The zone encompasses a recognised inshore navigation route.

Environment: There are designated wrecks in close proximity of the zone. Marine mammals exist in the local area, including dolphins, grey seals and harbour porpoise. Gannets are also found here. It is likely that the zone encompasses migrating paths for bass, salmon and sea trout.

Fishing: Activities local to the zone include all static gears, pots, netting and lining and inshore trawling.

Table 7: West Anglesey zone

C.4. Scotland Off Scotland, the two zones are adjacent to the Isle of Islay and Isle of Harris, as Figure 5 indicates.

Details are given in Tables 8 and 9.

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Figure 5: Wave and tidal current demonstration zones off Scotland

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Isle of Islay Tidal current demonstration zone, Scotland








Grid access: There is little grid capacity available locally, suggesting the zone is most suitable for non grid-connected sea trials.

Navigation: The zone is close to a recognised passage between Orsay and Islay and in close proximity to a cruising route to/from Northern Ireland.

Environment: Rhins of Islay lighthouse (category A listed) is adjacent to the zone. Portnaven is a Conservation Area. High densities of harbour porpoise exist in this area and there is a small resident population of bottlenose dolphins and occasionally Risso’s dolphins are also found here. The zone is partially within an area of search for a potential Special Protected Area (SPA) designation.

Fishing: There is a small amount of fishing activity in the area, which is highly productive for the few local vessels that operate in the vicinity (scallop tows and lobster potting).

Defence: The zone is close to a submarine navigational route.

Recreation: Surfing and associated tourism are recognised activities off the Islay coastline.

Table 8: Isle of Islay zone

Isle of Harris Wave demonstration zone, Scotland



Distance from shore (minimum - maximum): 4.3 km – 13.7 km



Mean wave resource level (annual mean power density): 30 kW/m


Grid access: This is dependent on the planned Western HVDC connection being built.

Navigation: Vessel movements to and from St Kilda occur close to the zone.

Environment: The zone is within an area of search for a potential Special Protected Area designation to protect inshore waterfowl. Some adjacent coastlines are designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC).

Fishing: Small fishing vessels may operate in this area.

Recreation: Surfing and associated tourism are recognised activities off the Isle of Harris.

Table 9: Isle of Harris zone

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D. Next steps

The leasing process will be launched on 27th September 2013. The procurement process will follow

the same format as previous wave and tidal leasing windows, with a pre-qualification stage (PQQ)

followed by an invitation to tender (ITT). Those bidders who successfully pass both these stages will

be able to enter into negotiations with The Crown Estate to secure development rights for either

Demonstration Zones or Agreements for Lease. We propose to complete successful awards of

agreements in April 2014.

D.1. Further information which The Crown Estate will share with bidders in

leasing process The stakeholder information that has been collated for each of the Zones has been summarised in

this report but will also be used in more detail to form part of a Zone Prospectus that will be given to

each Third Party Manager/Project Developer at the Invitation to Tender stage.

D.2. What successful bidders will do post leasing process Securing a Development Zone Management Agreement will be the first step in a process towards

developing out a Demonstration Zone.

Preparatory work will involve engagement with stakeholders, both locally and at the national level,

in order to prepare any relevant planning and consents applications, and to manage public interest.

There may be a need to carry out detailed site survey work, in order to ground-truth a site’s physical

characteristics prior to finalising the design and layout of projects within the zone. This may be

carried out either by the Third Party Manager or by incoming project developers depending upon

the approach taken by the rights holder. Other types of preparatory work might include the

procurement and installation of enabling infrastructure, such as cables, onshore amenities to

facilitate development or other activities relating to the establishment of a locally supportive supply

chain and business environment.

Once sub-leases have been awarded to project developers within the Demonstration Zones, the

Third Party Manager will be responsible for contract managing the day-to-day affairs of each

developer working within the zone, including the collection of rental payments and ensuring

compliance with established standards of health and safety and ensuring all zone ground rules are

adhered to.

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