Royal Haskoning to Lead EIAs for Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm Zone (UK)

Royal Haskoning has agreed a framework with Forewind to provide Co-ordination and Lead Consultancy roles for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) relating to projects within the Dogger Bank Offshore Wind Farm Zone. Potentially the largest offshore wind farm development in the world, the Dogger Bank zone could supply up to ten per cent of the UK’s energy requirements.

Located in the North Sea, 125km to 290km off the east coast of Yorkshire, Dogger Bank covers an immense 8,660km² and, if fully developed, could host more than 2000 individual wind turbine generators.

The EIA process is vital to ensure that a development consent order to proceed with the scheme is gained from the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which approves all nationally significant infrastructure projects.

Robert Staniland, Technical Director of Offshore Wind, Royal Haskoning, said: “We are naturally incredibly proud for the team to be working on such a prestigious project”.

“Royal Haskoning has an enviable and proven track record in the offshore wind market, having seen projects through the consenting process, the construction phase and into operational monitoring. Our technical expertise in and experience of both the offshore and onshore aspects of development allows us to forge the kind of strong client-consultant relationships that are evidenced by this contract with Forewind”.

Complex and wide-ranging, the EIA and pre-application process involves initial site selection for all components of onshore and offshore infrastructure, route-finding for export cables, planning and executing survey programmes, undertaking data analysis and interpretation and extensive stakeholder consultation. The EIA for the first project of the Dogger Bank zone is currently in progress and due to be submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) in December 2012.

 Gareth Lewis, Head of Offshore Development for Forewind said, “Having worked so thoroughly on our offshore Tranche A projects, the team from Royal Haskoning is now able to build on the learning and knowledge gleaned so far for our next phase of Tranche B projects and put into practice its expertise to assist Forewind in its delivery objectives for the Dogger Bank Zone.”

 Forewind’s Head of Onshore Development, Mark Thomas added: “Royal Haskoning have been our partners since the Round 3 bid phase and they have already dealt with many of the onshore aspects of our EIA to date so this extended scope is a natural evolution and gives a welcome continuity to our relationship. They have a thorough understanding of the Forewind approach and processes which should make for a smooth continuation for our future projects.”

Royal Haskoning will provide EIA services for both the onshore and offshore elements of the individual projects. As well as the turbines and undersea cables to convey the electricity to the shore, each project will need to be connected to an onshore converter station.

Rufus Howard, Principal Consultant, Royal Haskoning, explains: “The development of the onshore infrastructure for the Dogger Bank is an exciting challenge for the Haskoning team. Our consultants are involved in a large range of assessments including: cable route selection; the comparison of alternative sites; traffic and transport; land quality; flood risk; noise; and planning policy.”

 “If development proceeds, the Dogger Bank zone will bring a plentiful renewable energy supply to the UK. The whole team is tremendously proud and excited to be involved in such an important project.”

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Source: royalhaskoning, October 25, 2011