This project has been withdrawn by the developer Developer: RWE Site Size: Covering an area of approximately 200km². Atlantic Array Wind Farm Site Location: The wind farm would be located in the Bristol Channel; around 16.5km from the closest point to shore on the North Devon coast, 22.5km from the closest point to shore on the South Wales coast and 13.5km from Lundy Island.Predominant swell in this area is south westerly, caused by low pressure in the mid-atlantic. The areas most affected will be along the welsh coast; including surfing beaches Tenby South Beach (49km) to Porthcawl (51km). Other nearby surf spots that are less affected are between Lynmouth (35km) to (38km) Barley Bay to on the North Devon Coast. Image: RWE npower renewables (UK) Ltd. Technology: The proposed project would have a maximum of 240 wind turbinegenerators, 4 offshore substations, 5 meteorological stations and other associated infrastructure. The maximum installed capacity would be 1200MW, enough to meet the average energy needs of up to 900,000 homes.
The turbines will be one of three sizes; 5MW, 6MW or 8MW capacity. The proposed design envelopes for the turbines are: Indicative Turbine Size (MW) Max.Number Indicative Hub Height (m*) Max Rotor Diameter (m) Max blade tip (m*) 5 240 110 140 180 6 200 115 165 200 8 150 125 180 220 *m above LAT(Lowest Astronomical Tide) Foundations for the turbines are yet to be confirmed and will be of the following: Multiple and Jacket Foundations (piled lattice towers)- A typical foundation would consist of 4 legs held together by lattice framework, penetrating to 19m. However there is the possibility of the foundation being 3 legged or having a twisted jacket function. Tripod and braced column structure variants Differ from jackets in that they comprise a number of tubular membranes that are pinned to the seabed, the legs support a single column to support the tower and turbine. A braced column structures are all based on a single large column, with variation in bracing geometry and founding method. Gravity Based Structures Several GBS designs have been suggested, such as conical, flat, buoyant and hybrid structures. Material will be a mix of reinforced concrete and steel. It is likely that seabed levelling and input of material to form a stable base will occur. The worst case scenario will see an area of 105m² will be affect by seabed preparation. Suction Monopods Utilises a single suction caisson to support a steel/concrete columnar structure. Each monopod will have a maximum diameter of 20m and the caisson height above seabed will be 2m with a penetration depth of 19m. Floating concepts Comprise of a submersible platform, attached to the seabed by a variety of different mooring systems. The foundations for the substations and meteorological stations are likely to be from the same range as presented for the wind turbines. One large export cable will be used to connect the offshore substations to the onshore cables at the landfall point. The cable will be buried where feasible to do so; otherwise cable protection will be layed. The export cable landfall is located to the south of Westward Ho! At Cornborough Range. Using Horizontal Directional Drilling the export cable will be installed in ducts beneath the exposed rock structure and will exit in the seabed at a depth of 5m (LAT). Development Stage: The application was withdrawn by the developer on 26/11/2013 due to technical issues. Timeline: Scoping Report submitted: 04/2010
Scoping Opinion published from IPC: 05/2010 Community consultation period: 10/09/2011 11/09/2011, 04/05/2012 31/08/2012 Application Submitted: 14/06/2013 Application Accepted: 12/07/2013 Registration of Interested parties begins: 26/07/2013 Registration of interested parties closes: 16/09/2013 Preliminary Meeting: 10/12/13 Application Withdrawn : 26/11/2013 This project has been withdrawn by the developer Contact Details: Channel Energy Limited c/o RWE Npower Renewables Limited Auckland House Lydiard Fields Whitehill Way Swindon SN5 8ZT Tel: 01793 474100 Web:www.npower-renewables.com/atlanticarray Project Development Manager: Craig Harwood Tel:01793474193 craig.harwood@rwe.com Consents Manager: Natasha Bacon atlanticarray@npower-renewables.com Regulator Details: Planning Inspectorate case team: Tel: 0303 444 5000 atlanticarray@infrastructure.gsi.gov.uk
Statutory Consultees: Trinity House Tower Hill EC3N 4DH enquiries@thls.org The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Liverpool Marine Office Hall Road West Crosby Liverpool L23 8SY Tel: 0151 931 6600 The Marine Management Agency (MMO) Lancaster House Hampshire Court Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YH Tel: 0300 123 1032 info@marinemanagement.org.uk Natural England Natural England First Floor Temple Quay House 2 The Square Bristol BS1 6EB Tel: 0300 060 2065 enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk North Devon Council North Devon Council Civic Centre North Walk Barnstaple Devon EX31 1EA Tel: 01271 327711 customerservices@northdevon.gov.u k Countryside Council for Wales Natural Resources Wales Tŷ Cambria 29 Newport Road CF24 0TP Tel:0300 065 3000 enquiries@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk Historic Environment Service for the Welsh Government (CADW) Cadw Welsh Government Plas Carew Unit 5/7 Cefn Coed Parc Nantgarw CF15 7QQ Tel: 01443 336000 cadw@wales.gsi.gov.uk Torridge District Council Torridge District Council Riverbank House Bideford Devon EX39 2QG Tel: 01237 428700 customer.services@torridge.gov.uk The Crown Estate The Crown Estate 16 New Burlington Place W1S 2HX Tel: +44 (0)20 7851 5000 enquiries@thecrownestate.co.uk The Vale of Glamorgan Council Civic Offices Holton Road
Barry CF63 4RU Tel: 01446 700111 Welsh Assembly Government Welsh Government Cathays Park CF10 3NQ English: 0300 0603300 Welsh: 0300 0604400 English Heritage English Heritage 29 Queen Square Bristol BS1 4ND 0117 975 0700 southwest@english-heritage.org.uk SAS Traffic Light System Surfers Against Sewage have concerns due to the proximity of the proposed project to significant surf beaches South Wales. There are also concerns about the proposed cable route and technique which SAS will continue to monitor. Jacket foundations have been highlighted as have the biggest impact on wave resources. This Project has now been halted due to technical issues.