Draft Sectoral Marine Plans for Offshore Renewable Energy in Scottish Waters: Socio - Economic Assesment
The study reported here provides a high level socio-economic appraisal of the potential costs and benefits to activities that may arise as a result of offshore wind, wave or tidal development within the Draft Plan Options as part of possible future Scotti
C7. Military Interests
C7.1 Scoping Results
The results of the scoping assessment are presented in Table C7.1 (Offshore Wind), Table C7.2 (Wave) and Table C7.3 (Tidal) and indicate whether more detailed assessment is required (Y/N).
Table C7.1 Offshore Wind
| North | North-East | South-West | West | North-West | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OWN1 | OWN2 | OWNE1 | OWNE2 | OWSW1 | OWSW2 | OWW1 | OWW2 | OWW3 | OWNW1 | |
| Spatial overlap between Draft Plan Option areas and military practice and exercise areas | N | N | N | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Spatial overlap between Draft Plan Option areas and military practice and exercise areas - aviation | N | N | N | Y | N | N | N | N | N | Y |
| Spatial overlap with Low Priority Military Low Flying Area | Y | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Potential interference with underwater communications | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Spatial overlap with meteorological radar zones | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with Eskdalemuir ( UK seismic monitoring site) precautionary 80km boundary | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with MOD Air Traffic Control/Air Defence radar coverage areas | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap between cable routes and military practice and exercise areas | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | |||||
Areas where the MOD anticipates the construction of wind turbines is less likely to result in concern due to their likely effect on the UK low flying system, however, for developments within these areas liaison with the MOD is still encouraged prior to making applications for permissions.
Table C7.2 Wave
| North | West | North-West | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WN1 | WN2 | WN3 | WW1 | WW2 | WW3 | WNW1 | WW4 | |
| Spatial overlap between Draft Plan Option areas and military practice and exercise areas | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Potential interference with underwater communications | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Spatial overlap with meteorological radar zones | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with Eskdalemuir ( UK seismic monitoring site) precautionary 80km boundary | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with MOD Air Traffic Control/Air Defence radar coverage areas | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap between cable routes and military practice and exercise areas | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | |||||
Table C7.3 Tidal
| North | South-West | West | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN1 | TN2 | TN3 | TN4 | TN5 | TN6 | TN7 | TSW1 | TW1 | TW2 | |
| Spatial overlap between Draft Plan Option areas and military practice and exercise areas | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | Y |
| Potential interference with underwater communications | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Spatial overlap with meteorological radar zones | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with Eskdalemuir ( UK seismic monitoring site) precautionary 80km boundary | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap with MOD Air Traffic Control/Air Defence radar coverage areas | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N |
| Spatial overlap between cable routes and military practice and exercise areas | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | Y - qualitative assessment | |||||||
C7.2 Assessment Results - Estimation of Costs and Benefits
C7.2.1 Competition for Space
The Defence Infrastructure Organisation ( DIO) stated that it was not possible to quantify the economic cost impact that would arise from the loss of military testing facilities, should activity be displaced through wind, wave or tidal arrays. Particular areas (for example, Cape Wrath) were extremely important to national defence and there were no equivalent facilities where displaced military exercises could be undertaken (Jon Wilson, DIO, pers. comm. 28 February 2013). Marine renewable developments have the potential to affect danger/practice areas and strategic and navigational interests.
C7.2.2 Interference with Radar Systems and Underwater Communications
The DIO stated that interference with radar would arise in relation to wind arrays occurring within the line of sight of radar. At the time of writing no further information had been received regarding any specific areas of concern in relation to interference with radar or underwater communications.
C7.2.3 Summary
It is not possible to quantify the economic cost impact to this sector. Military practice areas and testing facilities are important to national defence and there are no equivalent areas in which these activities can be undertaken. A preliminary assessment of interaction between military installations/locations and PEXA using DECC Safeguarding maps indicated that no wind Draft Plan Option areas fell within areas likely to cause concern with regard to meteorological radar zones or the UK seismic monitoring site precautionary boundary.
C7.3 References
Baxter, J.M., Boyd, I.L., Cox, M., Donald, A.E., Malcolm, S.J., Miles, H., Miller, B., Moffat, C.F., (Editors), 2011. Scotland's Marine Atlas: Information for the national marine plan. Marine Scotland, Edinburgh.
DECC website. MOD safeguarding https://www.gov.uk/MOD-safeguarding
United Kingdom Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy ( UKMMAS), 2010. Charting Progress 2 Feeder Report Productive Seas. Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs on behalf of UKMMAS (Eds. Saunders, J. and McKie, J.) 472pp Available online: http://chartingprogress.defra.gov.uk/
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