Representation by Scira Extension Limited and Dudgeon Extension Limited (Scira Extension Limited and Dudgeon Extension Limited)
- Date submitted
- 21 June 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm Limited ("the Applicant") is proposing to develop the Five Estuaries Offshore Wind project (“the Project”). This relevant representation is being made by Equinor New Energy Limited ("Equinor") on behalf of Scira Extension Limited (SEL) and Dudgeon Extension Limited (DEL) regarding the application for development consent for the proposed Project ("the Application"). SEL and DEL are the named undertakers of the Sheringham Shoal and Dudgeon Extensions Offshore Wind Farm Order 2024 (the "SEP and DEP DCO") and hold generation licences under the Electricity Act 1989. The SEP and DEP DCO grants development consent for two offshore wind farm projects under separate ownership, the Sheringham Shoal Extension Project (SEP) and the Dudgeon Extension Project (DEP). SEP will comprise up to 23 wind turbine generators (WTG) and up to one offshore substation platform. DEP will comprise up to 30 WTGs across two array areas, DEP North (DEP-N) and DEP South (DEP-S), and up to one offshore substation platform. The SEP, DEP-N and DEP-S array areas will be connected by interlink cables, with two offshore export cable circuits connecting the projects to the landfall in Weybourne, north Norfolk. Onshore infrastructure will connect the projects to the Norwich Main substation, south of Norwich. There is no overlap or close proximity between the order limits of the proposed Project and the order limits of the SEP and DEP DCO. Equinor has reviewed the Applicant's assessment of the potential impacts on marine mammals in relation to underwater noise, in particular with regards to the potential in-combination impacts on the protected feature of the Southern North Sea SAC. Equinor notes that SEP and DEP have been considered in the in-combination assessment for noise in tables 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5 of the Report to Inform the Appropriate Assessment [document reference 5.4]. Equinor will continue to engage with the Applicant in relation to the potential need for coordination of activities in the southern North Sea in relation to noise, in particular UXO clearance and piling. Equinor reserves the right to make further representations on behalf of SEL and DEL as part of the examination process but in the meantime will continue to engage with the Applicant to ensure the successful coexistence of the respective projects.