OES-Environmental distributes metadata forms (questionnaires) to solicit information from developers involved in environmental monitoring around marine renewable energy project sites around the world. This page provides project descriptions, baseline assessment, post-installation monitoring, and links to available data and reports. Content is updated on an annual basis.

West Orkney South Wave Energy Site

Description

E.ON Climate and Renewables Developments Ltd is proposing to develop two adjacent wave energy projects off the west coast of Orkney called West Orkney Middle South and West Orkney South. If both of these areas are developed to their full potential, they could provide up to 100 megawatts (MW) of capacity, making a significant contribution to the Scottish Government’s renewable energy and emissions reduction targets. The project proposes a demonstration project consisting of a single wave energy converter or small array of up to 20 WECs with a total capacity not exceeding 10MW. Each lease also contains an option to develop a commercial wave energy array of up to 50MW.

Location

Off the west coast of Orkney called West Orkney Middle South and West Orkney South.

Licensing Information

The leases awarded by The Crown Estate allow E.ON to develop a 7-year demonstration project consisting of a single wave energy converter (WEC) or small array of up to 20 WECs with a total capacity not exceeding 10MW. Each lease also contains an option to develop a commercial wave energy array of up to 50MW upon exercising the commercial option of the lease, if the option is taken within B West Orkney South Wave Energy Site Scoping Report 4 RSK Environment Ltd RSK/HE/P80359/03/02 WOS Scoping Rep Rev00 the first 7 years. The commercial lease option for each site is for a period of up to 25 years (subject to obtaining other necessary licences/permits).

Project Progress

In March 2010 E.ON was awarded two lease agreements (i.e. West Orkney South (WOS) and West Orkney Middle South (WOMS)) that allow for delivery of two wave demonstration projects of up to 10MW (Phase 1), each with an option to develop commercial arrays of up to 50MW (Phase 2).

The project was cancelled. 
 

Key Environmental Issues

Key environmental concerns were outlined in the West Orkney South Wave Energy Site Environmental Scoping Report, including potential effects and mitigation for each. 

Papers, Reports, Research Studies

West Orkney South Wave Energy Site Environmental Scoping Report

Baseline Assessment: West Orkney South Wave Energy Site

Receptor Study Description Design and Methods Results Status
Birds Seabird Assessment Aerial surveys of seabirds from October 2010-September 2011. The surveys flew transects that were spaced 2km apart and used high-resolution camera technology to capture digital still images of birds for identification. Fulmar was the species most frequently recorded throughout the WOS area during all the surveys, with the exception of May. Auks were recorded in low numbers and only appeared during the August survey. Few kittiwakes were recorded in the survey area, with a peak of six in April.

No species population abundances could be estimated within the target level of precision (CV < 0.16) owing to the small numbers of bird sightings made within the area.
 Completed