NFFO to Criticise Plans for Massive Expansion in UK Offshore Renewable Energy

The NFFO Executive Committee heard at their last meeting in December 2007 that the Government had announced plans to dramatically increase the amount of electricity generated off UK shores, to power the equivalent of all of the UK's homes, by 2020.  The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (previously DTI) are keen to open up the majority of the UK’s continental shelf to large scale development in order reach this target.  The UK is now the number one location for investment in offshore wind in the world and next year the UK will overtake Denmark as the country with the most offshore wind capacity.

By 2020, there are likely to be 7000 additional turbines in up to 35 additional sites, probably located towards the Dogger Bank and between the Banks and the NE of East Anglia.  These would generate 25 gigawatts of offshore wind – this is on top of the 8 gigawatts already planned.  There are also plans for additional oil and gas licensing, including offshore methane storage and potentially, additional leasing for tidal electricity generation and CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage).

The NFFO Executive Committee are concerned that timings are too tight to allow for satisfactory planning and are determined to demonstrate the value and extent of the UK’s commercial fisheries to decision makers. 

At present, a scoping report to facilitate a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which will be completed in 2008, is available online, for comment:.

http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/index.php

The deadline for comments is February 1st 2008 – Federation members can contact Doug Beveridge at dbeveridge@nffo.org.uk to contribute to the NFFO’s response. 

The next stage, following the completion of the SEA in 2008, will be the awarding of seabed lease-holder rights, possibly as soon as 2009/10, followed by Environmental Impact Assessments between 2010 and 2013, with investment decisions and construction beginning in 2014.