Chamber and committees

The Scottish Government does consider that the document referred to will be a material consideration in the determination of applications for relevant energy development made under the Electricity Act 1989.

The Scottish Government regularly contributes to discussions with the European Commission, UK Government and EU member states on marine renewables and offshore wind energy issues. It contributed to the development of recently published EU Guidance on Wind Energy Developments and Natura 2000 and is represented on several UK groups including the UK Renewable Energy Deployment Environmental Issue Board.

There has been no specific correspondence so far with the European Commission, UK Government and EU member states regarding the potential for marine renewable projects to affect special areas of conservation and European protected species. However, ongoing work on Habitats Regulation Appraisals and other environmental assessments provide the basis for consideration of these issues and discussions with relevant countries and the European Commission where necessary.

The EU Guidance on Wind Energy Developments and Natura 2000 can be found via the following link http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/management/guidance_en.htm.

Applications for funding through the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund will be considered by Scottish Enterprise (SE) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). SE and HIE both require that projects obtain the necessary planning consents prior to the provision of funding. This will include environmental impact assessment of projects, where it is required.

A Strategic Environmental Assessment of the National Renewables Infrastructure Plan has been undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The results may be used by the site owners when progressing their site-specific proposals.

The purpose of this report is to collate baseline information relevant to the development process, to assist developers interested in competing for the Saltire Prize to identify and develop projects rapidly. As its primary purpose is the provision of baseline information, it is not considered to be a qualifying plan or project under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended for Scotland, which implement the EC Habitats Directive.

The National Renewables Infrastructure Plan (N-RIP) Stage 1 and 2 reports identify Scotland''s key locations that can support the development of a globally competitive offshore renewables industry. The reports set out the indicative infrastructure requirements and associated economic returns that could be generated. All projects associated with N-RIP will be required to follow planning and/or consenting procedures, including consents under the Harbours Act and/or the Town and Country Planning Act, and (in future) dredging licences under the Marine (Scotland) Act where dredging may be proposed.

In respect of planning, the National Marine Plan will take cognisance of the N-RIP. Scottish Government officials will also be working closely with planning authorities to ensure that N-RIP objectives are taken into account in the preparation of main issues reports and development plans.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38778 on 26 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

The Scottish Government is taking a planned approach to the development of wave, tidal and offshore wind energy sectors in a sustainable manner. The Scottish Government undertook a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to examine the wider environmental effects of wave and tidal power which was published on 31 March 2007.

Marine Scotland proposes to undertake an SEA maintenance exercise to update the 2007 SEA. This will incorporate Habitats Regulations Appraisal to assess potential impacts on Special Areas of Conservation, and Special Protection Areas and to ensure that the requirements of the Habitats Directive are met. Proposed developments will also be subject to environmental impact assessment including Habitats Regulations Appraisal at the project level. The marine licensing process will also consider the potential for impacts on European protected species.

The Scottish Government is also supporting a research programme on the environmental impacts of marine renewables to increase knowledge of the likelihood of potential impacts, provide a better baseline for environmental assessments and research mitigation strategies. Surveys have also been undertaken in the Pentland Firth to improve knowledge of the distribution of marine biodiversity features and inform licensing decisions.

I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-38778 on 26 January 2011. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

A valuation of the UK''s offshore renewable resource, published in May 2010, estimated that Scotland has 169 Gigawatts (GW) of practical offshore wind resource.

The Scottish Government also published a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Draft Plan for Offshore Wind Energy in Scottish territorial waters for public consultation in May 2010. The SEA identified the potential for a likely significant effect on sites designated for their nature conservation interest at a European level. Accordingly, the Scottish Government is currently undertaking a Habitats Regulations Appraisal of the Draft Plan which will be complete by the end of January and will inform the preparation of the Final Plan for Offshore Wind. The Draft Plan proposed 10 short term options for development up to 2020 with a potential generation capacity of 6.5GW. The 10 short-term options have now been reduced to nine, due to irresolvable issues with radar impacts. The nine short-term options have a potential generation capacity of 5.8GW. The Draft Plan also proposed 25 areas of search, titled medium term options, for possible development beyond 2030. No generating capacity has been set for these areas of search and any possible areas in the longer term.

In addition, we are aware that the Crown Estate has agreed leases for two Round 3 sites in the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth, beyond the Scottish Territorial Water limit of 12 nautical miles. These sites have a potential to generate a combined capacity of 4.8GW by 2020. The Crown Estate is currently undertaking a Habitats Regulations Appraisal of the Round 3 sites.

All offshore renewable energy projects are and will be subject to assessment under the relevant legislation to ensure that there is no adverse effect on European sites and species.

Marine renewables and offshore wind will make a significant contribution to our renewable energy targets and contribute to our wider environmental objectives, particularly in relation to climate change.

The climate change benefits associated with marine renewables and offshore wind will benefit marine biodiversity as well as society and the environment more generally. It will provide Scotland with a better mix of sources of power by reducing dependence on fossil fuels. The development of a marine renewables and offshore wind industry will also contribute to economic growth, including significant potential for new sources of employment in coastal communities.

The potential impacts for biodiversity are dependent on the design of wave, tidal and offshore wind projects, construction and operating plans, location of the proposed development and biodiversity features of interest. The potential impacts include habitat loss, disturbance of marine species, collision risk with marine species and barrier effects to migration of marine species. Developments also have the potential to provide artificial reefs, through the placement of manmade structures on the seabed.