Patrick Kearon The Bristol Port Company

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Patrick KearonThe Bristol Port Company
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Background

• Global warming we all need to reduce CO2 output
  from our activities
• UK Target 20 reduction in 1990 CO2 levels by
  2010
• South West Target 11-15 of electricity from
  renewable sources
• Dependence on finite fossil fuels increasing
  energy costs
• UK is Europes windiest country - average mean
  wind speeds gt7m/s (18mph)

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The Answer
Imperative for The Bristol Port Company to
develop a local renewable energy source to supply
port demand
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Outline of Proposals

• Erect 3 wind turbines (up to 3 MW), including
  associated bases and cables
• Construct control building access ways
• Combined 9 MW up to 75 of ports electricity
  demand
• Development site is 8.5 hectares of reclaimed
  land in Avonmouth Dock
• Adjacent to Severn Estuary

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Site Location
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Site Selection - Alternatives

• 9 potential locations short-listed and tested
  against 3 key factors
• Wind generating potential
• Aviation safety (Filton Airfeld)
• Possible impacts on birds using the estuary
• This location in Avonmouth Docks was identified
  as optimum site
• Turbine location finely adjusted to not interfere
  with air safety bird migration routes

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The Preferred Site
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Typical Wind Turbine Dimensions
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Environmental Issues

• Geology/Ground Conditions
• Hydrology/Hydrogeology
• Ecology
• Landscape and visual impacts
• Archaeology
• Traffic and transport
• Noise and vibration
• Telecommunications
• Air traffic

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Landscape and Visual Impacts

• Evaluate effect on local landscape
• Turbines located in low-lying, heavily
  industrialised landscape, with many tall
  structures buildings
• Landform, structures woodlands restrict
  visibility
• Turbines will be visible from
• Avonmouth Village (partial, restricted views,
  change inevitable in places)
• Pill (noticeable, but not intrusive)
• Higher elevations e.g. Lawrence Weston
  Shirehampton (more visible, but distant
  panoramic, not intrusive)

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Photomontage of Landscape
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Ecology and Birds

• No valuable habitats on site, but next to Severn
  Estuary SPA, SSSI and Ramsar site
• Ecological surveys to inform assessment of
  impacts on wildlife, including
• Extended Phase 1 habitat survey
• Bird surveys (e.g. High tide/low tide counts,
  night time, migration and breeding surveys)
• Key potential impacts on birds are Disturbance
  Collisions
• With mitigation no adverse impact during
  construction
• 5 years monitoring (review in 2 years)

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Bird Movements
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Archaeology

• Assessment of archaeological remains in the
  vicinity of the development site
• Terrestrial archaeology
• Maritime archaeology and historic activity
• Borehole assessment
• No known sites or monuments affected by the
  development
• Construction of turbines includes 30 metre piles
  into made ground
• Mitigation/Monitoring archaeological recording

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Historic Mapping
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Balance of Effects

• No major adverse environmental impacts
• Potential disturbance of SPA birds and changed
  views from areas of Avonmouth Village
• All other negative impacts avoided or reduced by
  mitigation and design measures
• 17-26 of south wests renewable energy target
• Provision of up to 75 of Ports electricity
• Significant reduction in green house gasses
  (18,319 tonnes CO2 /plus SO2 NOx)

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Construction Operation

• Construction end 2006
• Construction programme about 36 weeks
• In operation this time in 2007
• Operational life of 25 years
• Turbines then either replaced, refurbished or
  removed site reinstated

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The Way Forward

• BPC agreement with Ecotricity who will construct,
  own and operate the turbines
• BPC provided with energy for life of turbines
• Overspill electricity is publicly available -
  see (http//www.ecotricity.co.uk)
• We all need to do more to tackle global warming
  problem
• Wind turbines can contribute to the renewable
  energy solution