We’ll update these throughout the development of the Project.
Extensions to operational wind farms have proven to be a successful way of efficiently developing more offshore generating capacity. In February 2017, The Crown Estate launched an opportunity for existing wind farms to apply for project extensions. This opportunity closed in May 2018, with eight project applications received UK-wide. Seven of those were successful including the proposed Galloper extension, now known as Five Estuaries.
Five Estuaries is currently in the development stage and must obtain a development consent order first. A Development Consent Order includes detailed environmental and technical assessments to inform our proposals and also includes extensive consultation on, and resulting any refinement of, the proposals.
RWE are leading the development of Five Estuaries on behalf of the project partners.
RWE represents change, innovation and sustainability. As one of the world’s leading generators of electricity from renewable energy sources, we aim to be carbon-neutral by 2040 and to enable a sustainable life for people around the world.
Five Estuaries is owned by a number of shareholders, and RWE Renewables UK is leading the development of the project on behalf of the project partners.
The Project partners are; RWE (25%), a Macquarie-led consortium (25%), Siemens financing arm, Siemens Financial Services (25%), ESB (12.5%) and Sumitomo Corporation (12.5%).
RWE is one of the largest renewable energy generators in the UK, with a diverse portfolio of onshore and offshore wind projects, hydro and biomass with a combined installed capacity of over 2.79 GW (pro rata) (4.8 GW installed capacity.) RWE’s largest contribution to renewable energy generation is from offshore wind projects. RWE, the largest power producer in the UK, accounts for around 15%. of all electricity generated in the UK, a figure that is projected to expand as their renewables portfolio grows.
Macquarie Asset Management is a global asset manager that aims to deliver positive impact for everyone. Trusted by institutions, pension funds, governments, and individuals,
Macquarie Asset Management provides access to specialist investment expertise across a range of capabilities including infrastructure, green investments, real estate, agriculture & natural assets, asset finance, private credit, equities, fixed income and multi asset solutions.
Macquarie Asset Management is part of Macquarie Group, a diversified financial group providing clients with asset management, finance, banking, advisory and risk and capital solutions across debt, equity, and commodities.
Siemens Financial Services (SFS) is the B2B financing arm of Siemens, providing financing that makes a difference. SFS empowers customers around the globe to access technology with purpose and increase their competitiveness. Based on our unique combination of financial expertise, risk management and industry know-how we provide tailored financing solutions – including flexible leasing and working capital products, project-related and structured financing, corporate lending, equity investments, finance advisory, as well as trade and receivables financing. With highly experienced and passionate teams in 20+ countries, SFS paves the way for industrial productivity, smart infrastructure and sustainable mobility, facilitating the energy transition and enabling high-quality healthcare. Supporting the Siemens DEGREE framework, SFS is one of the leading providers in financing greenfield renewable projects.
ESB has been Ireland's foremost energy company since it was established in 1927, driven by an unwavering commitment to power society forward and deliver a net zero future for our customers and the communities we serve. We have been investing in Britain since 1993, providing flexible, low carbon and reliable electricity generation as well as public EV charging and low carbon business solutions.
Launched in 2022, its Driven to Make a Difference: Net Zero by 2040 strategy sets out a clear roadmap for ESB to achieve net zero emissions by 2040. It also commits ESB to a Science Based Target for 2030 to provide assurance that we are decarbonising our operations at the necessary pace and scale.
As a strong, diversified utility, ESB operates across the electricity market, from generation through transmission and distribution, to supply of customers in addition to using our networks to carry fibre for telecommunications. ESB has a regulated asset base of approximately €10.9 billion (comprising ESB Networks €8.8 billion and NIE Networks €2.1 billion), a 33% share of generation in the all-island market and supply businesses supplying electricity and gas to over 1.9 million customer accounts throughout the islands of Ireland and Great Britain.
As at 31 December 2021, ESB Group employed over 7,800 people.
Sumitomo Corporation (SC) is a leading Fortune 500 global trading and business investment company with 131 locations (Japan: 20, Overseas: 111).
The entire SC Group consists of 893 companies. SC conducts commodity transactions in all industries utilizing worldwide networks, provides customers with financing, serves as an organizer and a coordinator for various projects, and invests in companies to promote greater growth potential. SC’s core business areas include six business units: Metal Products; Transportation and Construction Systems; Infrastructure; Media and Digital; Living Related and Real Estate; and Mineral Resources, Energy, Chemical and Electronics, and one initiative: Energy Innovation.”
SC’s corporate message, “Enriching lives and the world”, was created to encapsulate their vision for sustainability in the next 100 years. SC’s business, as well as relationships with stakeholders, has expanded on a global scale. Their mission is to grow sustainably alongside society, pursue development for the world, and enable better lives for all.
RWE is helping to shape the sustainable future of the world’s power supply. As part of society and a key player in the worldwide energy market, we are aware of the responsibility that goes with our role. Corporate Responsibility is part of the contribution RWE makes to sustainable development and responsible business management. Everything from environmental protection and climate-change mitigation, social concerns and human rights through to responsible corporate governance is taken into account. Here you will find links to our corporate reasonability reports and key information.
Certificates and guidelines (rwe.com)
Please also see below link to RWE’s non-financial performance in the area of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) as rated by independent agencies.
Five Estuaries is currently engaged in the government-led Offshore Transmission Network Review, which is looking into ways that the offshore network is designed and delivered, consistent with the ambition to deliver net zero emissions by 2050. Both the Government’s recent Energy Security Strategy and Net Zero goals show the importance of bringing 50GW of new offshore renewable generation online by 2030.
Following the Project’s involvement with the Offshore Transmission Network Review and the feedback from our last stage of consultation, we have now identified the opportunity to coordinate more closely with the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project. The primary goal of this coordination is to reduce the potential impact of building the onshore connection to the national electricity transmission network for the two projects.
Five Estuaries is also considering submitting an application for a Development Consent Order that would allow for flexibility to accommodate a coordinated connection at a later date, provided there is greater certainty on the commercial, regulatory and technical environment. The viability of any coordinated connection is dependent on the progress made by the Offshore Transmission Network Review process and associated regulatory and commercial policy changes and the individual offshore connector projects involved.
It is important to recognise the risk of delaying projects that the UK Government is counting on to deliver their 2030 ambitions for offshore wind deployment. Alongside considering opportunities for cooperation, we will continue to develop coordinated plans on the basis of existing regulations to provide an onshore connection, ensuring no delay to our planned grid connection date and therefore continuing to support the UK Government’s 2030 targets.
You can read more about the Review here: www.gov.uk/government/groups/offshore-transmission-network-review
An important consideration for the site selection and design work for Five Estuaries has been the proximity of the proposed North Falls Offshore Wind Farm. Although North Falls and Five Estuaries are two separate projects being developed by different shareholder groupings, co-ordination with North Falls has been (and will continue to be) explored across a range of aspects, including stakeholder engagement, surveys, and siting of onshore infrastructure.
The primary goal of this coordination is to reduce the potential impact of building the onshore connection to the national electricity transmission network for the two projects. This has meant that Five Estuaries has sought to identify suitable options for the Project’s onshore infrastructure that can accommodate either the Five Estuaries project alone or co-location with North Falls. The Five Estuaries onshore site selection process for the Export Cable Corridor (ECC) and the Onshore Substation (OnSS) has sought to identify options that could accommodate two projects. Coordinated activities and/or shared information to date have included:
Coordination and engagement with North Falls has been achieved through regular team meetings and discussions.
The project will be located to the east of the existing Galloper Wind Farm, approximately 37km at its closest point to the coast of Suffolk in the southern North Sea, The maximum total area being developed is 128km2 split (refined to address Shipping and Navigation and Visual impact concerns) across two seabed areas divided by a shipping traffic separation scheme.
This will depend upon the scale of wind turbines available at the time of construction. For the purposes of assessing environmental impacts for our application, the Project has considered a realistic worst-case scenario of either;
Turbine models available on the market now might not be in production at the time of construction, or more efficient models might be available. However, in line with trends in the offshore wind industry as a whole, and the significant improvements seen over the past five years, it is expected that the turbines will be larger than those installed at neighbouring Galloper Offshore Wind Farm (180m).
Wind turbine output in megawatts (MW) and size have grown rapidly over the last decade. The Galloper wind turbines installed in 2017 are 6MW units, but already today, wind turbine manufacturers are offering larger turbines. Larger wind turbines have been a key part of making offshore wind a cost-efficient method of electricity generation. Larger models are a key component to this, as the required number of foundations and cables reduces if the wind turbines are larger. However, to generate the increased power per wind turbine, the swept area and therefore height of wind turbines increases.
For Five Estuaries we have allowed for future development in turbine technology and projected increase in size of wind turbine to ensure the Project can utilise the latest technology and produce cost efficient power for consumers.
Wind turbines until recently have had design lifetimes of 20 to 25 years, principally as certain components are heavily fatigue loaded. Advancing wind turbine technology means longer design lifetimes are beginning to be possible, and this is something the Project will investigate as it progresses. Our assessment has therefore allowed for possible future development and is based on an anticipated lifetime of the turbine of between 24 to 40 years.
The corridor needed to construct the cable route would typically be up to 60m wide, however for some sections where trenchless techniques are used the width could be up to 120m. Up to four onshore circuits are required to connect the wind farm which would each be made up of three power cables laid in plastic ducts
For PEIR a wider Red Line Boundary of around 250m has been included to allow for potential co-ordination with the North Falls Offshore Wind Farm project and so different installation options can be considered at obstacles i.e. micro-siting / trenchless techniques. A more refined export cable corridor will be included at the DCO application stage in the final Environmental Statement.
Navigation and Visual impact concerns) across two seabed areas divided by a shipping traffic separation scheme.
For trenched sections of the onshore cable corridor, the indicative minimum depth of burial from the ground surface to the top of the cable ducting, would be 0.6 metres. Cables will be deeper than this in certain locations, including at Horizontal Directional Drilling locations where the cables would typically be 5-20 metres below the surface. power for consumers.
Five Estuaries would aim to minimise disturbance to hedgerows by using gaps in vegetation where possible. Wherever a hedgerow crossing is unavoidable, and the hedge requires removal, the width of the hedge removed will be limited where practicable. All removed hedges will be replaced with locally appropriate species. In addition, we would plan to avoid burying cables close to major tree roots in order to maintain cable integrity, as well as seeking to avoid potential impacts on the trees.
When construction work has been completed, the land will be able to be used as before.
As part of our licensing we would restrict, or require prior approval, for certain development or works over the cables. This will ensure the safety of anyone working near to our infrastructure; maintain the integrity of the cables; and allow for maintenance to be performed on the cables if required.
In designing the cable route, Five Estuaries has sought to maintain a buffer from residential properties, where environmental and engineering constraints allow, and without conflicting the principles of developing an efficient, coordinated and economical system of electricity transmission. The latter being a requirement for licence holders under the Electricity Act 1989 such as Five Estuaries.
Only those persons holding property interests which are directly affected by the proposed infrastructure, i.e. locations where infrastructure such as cables or the onshore substation will be physically placed or constructed, will be entitled to compensation in accordance with relevant legislation and case law.
The Project is at too early a stage for any decisions or commitments about the scale or size of a community benefits package to be confirmed. This is typically based on an understanding of the local community alongside the impact of a Project. All of which we are in the process of gathering data and local knowledge to develop our plans and this will be considered as the scheme progresses.
Community benefits are considered separate to a project application and traditionally are available at the same time as the projects themselves become fully operational. At that point we will have more detail about what the community support will look like and how it will work.
RWE, as the lead developer, takes the issue of health very seriously and relies on authoritative and independent scientific organisations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), to review the worldwide body of scientific evidence on electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) and health, as well as reviewing the science ourselves.
Health considerations are given a high priority in the process by which we arrive at any proposals for new routes for electricity connections. Our approach is to ensure that all our assets comply with the guidelines set by Government on advice from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The Project is at too early a stage for any decisions or commitments about the scale or size of a community benefits package to be confirmed. This is typically based on an understanding of the local community alongside the impact of a Project. All of which we are in the process of gathering data and local knowledge to develop our plans and this will be considered as the scheme progresses.
Community benefits are considered separate to a project application and traditionally are available at the same time as the projects themselves become fully operational. At that point we will have more detail about what the community support will look like and how it will work.
Construction would not commence until we have received a Development Consent Order and a route to market secured), we anticipate that being 2025 onwards at the earliest. We expect construction to start in 2027 and for Five Estuaries to be operational from 2030 supporting the UK Government’s green energy targets of 50GW by 2030.
The Project is investigating the availability of suitable ports both for construction and for operations during the life of the wind farm. At this early stage of the project, these decisions have not been made but we are continuing to investigate suitable options.
Consultations are fixed periods where we ask for feedback on published material. We will continue to engage with the community and local stakeholders throughout the development of the Project, as well as during construction and operation should the Project receive consent. It is however unlikely that we will hold a large scale consultation on the full proposals again.
Keep in touch
| Phone: | 0333 880 5306 |
|---|---|
| Email: | fiveestuaries@rwe.com |
| Write to us: |
Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm Ltd, Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon SN5 6PB |
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