DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT

Transcription

1 DESIGN & ACCESS STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED ERECTION OF A SINGLE WIND TURBINE WITH MAXIMUM BLADE TIP HEIGHT OF 67M, FORMATION OF NEW VEHICULAR ACCESS, ACCESS TRACK AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE ON LAND AT RIDGECOMBE FARM, LIFTON, DEVON March 2015 Prepared By

2 Project Quality Control Sheet ORIGINAL Author Checked by Approved by Signature Date 06/03/ /03/ /03/2015 Company Aardvark EM Ltd Aardvark EM Ltd Aardvark EM Ltd Location: Land at Ridgecombe Farm, Lifton, Devon, PL16 0HD Grid Reference: , Project Manager: Nick Leaney Report Author: Kirsty Gibson BSc Hons Nick Leaney BSc Hons MRICS FRGS Report Number: Report Status: Final Copyright: All copyright in this document is reserved. Liability: This document contains information and may contain conclusions and recommendations. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and that the opinions expressed are sound. However, Aardvark EM Limited cannot be made liable for any errors or omissions or for any losses or consequential losses resulting from decisions based on the information. Report Written and Produced By Aardvark EM Limited, Higher Ford, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 2RL Telephone: , Facsimile: Web:

3 Contents 1 Use Amount Siting/Layout Scale Technology Security Fencing & Lighting Energy Generation Grid Connection Landscaping Materials and Appearance Access Delivery Route Construction Period Operational Phase... 5

4 1 Use The proposed scheme comprises a single wind turbine with maximum blade tip height of 67m, formation of new vehicular access track and associated infrastructure. 2 Amount The proposed development comprises the following elements; A single three bladed medium scale wind turbine A steel reinforced concrete foundation for the turbine A GRP transformer house An area of hardstanding at the base of the turbine tower to be used as a crane base. This will be extended during the construction period to provide a setting down area and removed post construction during the operational period A new temporary access from the public highway for the construction period A new access track connecting to the existing road network will be constructed to the base of the turbine and hardstanding area with a width of 4m. The specification of the track and depth of the road base is subject to the manufacturers specifications and ground conditions on site A temporary turning head will be laid during the construction period to enable all vehicles to leave the site in a forward gear Underground cabling to the turbine for connection to the National Grid. 3 Siting/Layout Drawing ref. 1117/2837 Location Plan and 1117/2836 Development Plan submitted with the application shows the position of the turbine, access, access track and attendant infrastructure within the field and immediate surrounding area. The positioning of the wind turbine and ancillary structures takes into account the findings and recommendations of consultees, the ecological and landscape and visual assessment reports as well as the requirements of the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for the connection to the grid and of the turbine manufacturers. On completion of the development, once the scheme is operational, agricultural use of the site will recommence. 4 Scale The proposed turbine will have a hub height of 40m and 54m rotor diameter giving a maximum tip height of 67m. EWT General Arrangement Drawing Ref R03 DIRECTWIND 54 HH 40 submitted with the application shows the proposed turbine dimensions, which have been taken into consideration in the supporting documentation submitted with the application. Aardvark EM Limited March 2015 Page 1

5 Appendix 2 of the Devon Landscape Policy Group Advice Note No2 Accommodating Wind and Solar PV Developments in Devon s Landscape (2013) presents a guide to types and scales of development referred to in the guidance. The proposed turbine with a blade tip height of 67m falls into the medium scale defined as approximately 51-75m to blade tip height. The application red line area is 0.51ha (5,122m²) drawing ref: 1117/ Technology The specification and siting of the proposed wind turbine has been determined by the noise survey, ecological survey and landscape and visual impact assessment work undertaken to date and has been identified by the applicant as the most efficient technology for the site. The EWT DW54 is a wind energy converter with a three-bladed rotor, active pitch control and variable speed operation with a rate power of 500kW. The turbine will have a hub height of 40m and 54m rotor diameter giving a total height of 67m. The turbine EWT DW54 is physically 2.75 times the height of a small scale 11kW turbine, but provides 45 times the electricity generated. Similarly the EWT DW54 turbine is 1.8 times the height of a 50kW turbine, but produces 10 times the electricity generated. In the EWT DW54 turbines, the rotor directly drives the synchronous annular generator without the use of a gearbox. This is important because various studies have concluded that the dominant cause of downtime is malfunctioning of gearboxes. The generated energy is fed into the grid via a modern back to back full-power converter which controls the output, so grid requirements can be met. The main advantages of this turbine are no need to replace gearboxes, higher energy yields, lower maintenance costs and most importantly reduced noise levels. The power generated will be fed into the connected utility grid via a transformer. The grid management system converts the current generated by the generator into AC current according to the requirements and standards given by the utilities and feeds it into the grid via a transformer. The performance of the turbine is monitored using a SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system. 5.1 Security Fencing & Lighting Temporary site protection fencing will be erected around the development area during construction and decommissioning for health and safety as well as site security reasons. There will be no security fencing around the site post-development. In response to the request from the MOD as part of the pre-application consultation, aviation lighting will be fitted at the top of the turbine mast, therefore infrared lighting fitted at the highest practicable point is proposed. There is no external flood lighting on either the turbine itself or ancillary structures. It is considered that lighting can be adequately dealt with by condition. 5.2 Energy Generation Based on a capacity factor of 26% (DECC Regional Renewable Statistics 2013 load factor for wind onshore in the South West), the turbine would generate approximately 1,139MWh of energy per annum at the estimated wind speed for the site. Aardvark EM Limited March 2015 Page 2

6 In reality the regional load factor is an average of all operational turbines and therefore takes little account of this type of modern turbine (direct drive technology with larger swept area). As a result the manufacturer s power curve indicates energy production at this site would be higher than the MWh predicted using the capacity factor method. Based on the installed capacity and the turbine manufacturer s power curve, the 500kWp single turbine will generate approximately 1,818MWh of energy per annum based on the site s average wind speed of 6.4m/s. Using the 26% load factor it is equivalent to 280 residential properties based upon the British average household consumption of 4,065 kwh/year (DECC). West Devon has an average energy use of 4,997 kwh per annum so the number of typical homes in West Devon equivalent to the energy generation of this scheme would be slightly lower. However, when this is assessed against the predicted generation on the turbine power curve this increases to 447 homes based upon the British average household consumption. 5.3 Grid Connection Pre-application consultation with Western Power Distribution (WPD) has confirmed that there is capacity and therefore demand within the local network for the connection to export energy based on the proposed scale of development and anticipated energy production given the current local requirements for energy, thus producing electricity in the vicinity of the end users in line with the Government s policy of dispersed energy generation near the point of use. The turbine will be connected via a new section of underground cable to the Point of Connection (PoC) being the existing 11kV 3-Phase network via a drop down cable from the existing electricity poles in the field. 6 Landscaping Given the nature of the proposed development, no additional landscaping has been proposed or considered necessary as part of this application. 7 Materials and Appearance The proposed turbine under consideration is the EWT Directwind DW54 as shown on EWT General Arrangement Drawing Ref R03 DIRECTWIND 54 HH 40. The final design and specification of the turbine base and sub-structure will be dependent on the geotechnical assessment of the site undertaken pre-construction but will comprise a concrete foundation approximately 1500mm deep on a engineered fill of a further 1500mm depth (to the appropriate ground bearing capacity). The mast itself sits on a 3600mm diameter mast ring, 500mm high above ground level that sits centrally on the foundation base. Provision of ducts and conduits within the foundation base allows connection. All foundation works will be completed to the relevant British Standards, Codes of Practice and Building regulations. The turbine tower will be of a tubular steel construction. The rotor blades are constructed with glass reinforced epoxy resin. The colour of both the turbine tower and blade set will be light grey colour reference RAL7035 as detailed in the submitted turbine specification document. Aardvark EM Limited March 2015 Page 3

7 The access track and hardstanding areas will be surfaced with a non-slip finish such as crushed rock or stone chippings. 8 Access 8.1 Delivery Route A construction traffic management plan (CTMP) has been submitted with the application showing the preferred route for the delivery of the turbine and construction traffic to the site. The identified construction traffic delivery route is to leave the A30 at the junction with the A386 at Sourton Down. At the end of the slip road the route takes a right (onto the A386) and then immediately left onto the Bridestowe Road. The route follows this road through Bridestowe and on to Lewdown where there is a left hand turning at the cross roads sign posted to Chillaton. In Chillaton the route takes the right turn sign posted to Lifton and then Right at Router Cross. This then leads to the proposed turbine site entrance. Whilst there is an existing access from the public highway, a new temporary access will be constructed from the public highway to accommodate the construction traffic. This will be reinstated after the construction period has completed. A new access track will be constructed from the existing field gate entrance to facilitate access to the base of the proposed turbine during the operational period, as illustrated in drawing ref: 1117/2836. Construction traffic will comprise delivery of the turbine and attendant infrastructure, concrete for the turbine base and sub-structure and materials for the access road. Delivery of the turbine and ancillary equipment to the site will comprise heavy and abnormal goods traffic and will comprise up to 10 vehicles over one or two days:- 1. The blades are fitted within transport frames, grouped into a set of three blades and are delivered in one telescopic semi-trailer truck load; 2. The blade hub, transformer and other auxiliaries are delivered in two truck loads; 3. The tower is delivered in two sections and two standard truck and trailer loads; 4. The nacelle is delivered in one truck load; 5. The large ring generator is delivered in one truck load; 6. One ton main crane and one 90 ton hydraulic tail crane. The materials for the new access road and hardstanding concrete for the turbine base/crane pad will generate approximately 10 HGV vehicle movements per day. Other vehicle movements associated with the development will comprise cars and small commercial vehicles for site workers. 8.2 Construction Period Access to the turbine site will be via an agreed route to the turbine crane base constructed to the specification set out by the turbine manufacturers and detailed in the construction traffic management plan (CTMP) submitted with the application. This will also include temporary load bearing plates to increase turning radii and a standing area at the base of the turbine itself for the temporary storage of equipment and materials during construction and parking of site vehicles. Aardvark EM Limited March 2015 Page 4

8 The retained hard standing area has been sized, and will be managed, to allow two or more vehicles to enter and deliver to the site. A temporary turning head will also be constructed for vehicles to turn around so they can exit the site in a forward gear. 8.3 Operational Phase Once construction is complete, the site will require only periodic visits during the operational phase, for occasional repair and maintenance work. Aardvark EM Limited March 2015 Page 5