- Information gathered will provide detailed understanding of site conditions
- Surveys are required to inform the project design and Environmental Impact Assessment process
GLASGOW, May 2, 2023
Offshore investigation surveys are set to begin across the site of Spiorad na Mara, a proposed fixed-bottom offshore wind project in an area approximately 5-13 kilometres off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis.
The campaign will begin in early May 2023 and is expected to finish by the end of September 2023.
Through the use of a range of specialist vessels, the campaign will include geophysical, geotechnical, and environmental surveys.
The geophysical surveys will map out the seabed surface and subsurface, identify potential archaeological features, and provide insight into the physical features of the seabed, including water depth, sediment type and distribution (sand, mud, gravel, rock).
The geotechnical surveys will collect samples from the seabed, including boreholes and cone penetration testing. This data will be used to inform the mechanical and geotechnical properties of the seabed that will determine the foundation type and design.
An environmental survey collecting data on seabed habitats, marine ecology and water quality, will also take place. This information will be assessed and submitted in the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, as part of the application for consent. The survey campaign will also feed into the process to define suitable cable routes, cable landfall options, and inform the layout of the project.
Information on the survey programme has been shared with the local fishing community and other marine users, with the campaign having been carefully considered and planned to minimise impact on existing activities. A Notice to Mariners containing further information has also been issued.
“This is an exciting milestone for Spiorad na Mara, building on the progress of the past year. Our objective is to deliver a project which the Outer Hebrides can be proud of, with substantial benefits for the local, regional, and national economy and the environment,” said Tanya Davies, Project Director of Spiorad na Mara. “The start of this offshore survey campaign brings us closer to achieving that objective.”
“We aim to submit our planning application during 2024, and the data we gather during these surveys will form an important part of that application, from an environmental, technical and design perspective.”
During June, a series of public events on Lewis is being planned, where local communities and stakeholders can meet with members of the project team to ask questions, provide feedback, and receive the latest information. Further details will be made available over the coming weeks.
Spiorad na Mara is being developed by Northland Power, one of Canada’s first independent power producers. As developers, owners, and operators of energy facilities across the globe, Northland is building a sustainable and carbon-neutral world.
Further information is available at www.northlandpowerscotwind.co.uk.
Contact
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Steve Thomas
Communications Adviser, Northland Power - steve.thomas@northlandpower.com
About Northland Power
Northland Power is a global power producer dedicated to helping the clean energy transition by producing electricity from clean renewable resources. Founded in 1987, Northland has a long history of developing, building, owning, and operating clean and green power infrastructure assets and is a global leader in offshore wind. In addition, Northland owns and manages a diversified generation mix, including onshore renewables, efficient natural gas energy, as well as supplying energy through a regulated utility.
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with global offices in eight countries, Northland owns or has an economic interest in 3.0 GW (net 2.6 GW) of operating capacity. The Company also has a significant inventory of projects in construction and in various stages of development, encompassing over 20 GW of potential capacity.
For further information, visit https://www.northlandpower.com
About Spiorad na Mara
Spiorad na Mara is a proposed fixed-bottom turbine offshore wind farm, set in an area approximately 5-13 kilometres off the west coast of the Isle of Lewis. With a potential capacity of around 840 MW, it could meet the average annual electricity needs of around 760,000 Scottish homes with locally produced, low-cost renewable electricity and save almost 1.2 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.
Further information is available at www.spioradnamara.co.uk
