Committee
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill Committee, 26 Mar 2003
26 Mar 2003 · S1 · Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill Committee
Item of business
Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill: Consideration Stage
Amendments 1, 2 and 16 were lodged by the promoters to address construction issues that have arisen since the bill was introduced. The amendments are intended to give greater flexibility in the detailed design of the project and to take into account the fact that the wind turbine manufacturing industry is making rapid advances in the development of offshore wind turbines.Section 1(1)(a) describes the maximum and minimum dimensions of the wind turbines. Amendment 1 would allow a lower minimum height of 62m above the level of high water for the turbine towers. Amendment 2 would allow the maximum diameter for the rotor blades of the turbines to be increased to 104m.The maximum and minimum dimensions allowed for in section 1(1)(a) are subject to section 1(2), which specifies a minimum blade clearance between the lowest point of the rotating blades and the level of high water. Amendment 16 would reduce the minimum clearance between the blades and the level of high water, which at present under section 1(2) is a distance of 25m. The amendment would reduce the minimum to 18m.Members will recollect hearing detailed evidence on the subject during the preliminary and consideration stages. As a result of that evidence, the committee agreed in our first report of 2003 to support the changes suggested in amendments 1, 2 and 16. However, that support was conditional on an active management system being put in place to allow the blades to be stopped quickly in an emergency. John Home Robertson will shortly speak to the committee's amendment on an active management system.I move amendment 1.
In the same item of business
The Convener (Mr Tom McCabe):
Lab
Good afternoon and welcome to the consideration stage of the Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Navigation and Fishing) (Scotland) Bill. I apologise for being a ...
Section 1—Authority for works obstructing navigation and fishing
The Convener:
Lab
The first group of amendments covers issues regarding turbine height and turbine clearance. Amendment 1 is grouped with amendments 2, 16 and 17.
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Amendments 1, 2 and 16 were lodged by the promoters to address construction issues that have arisen since the bill was introduced. The amendments are intende...
The Convener:
Lab
As Mike Rumbles suggested, John Home Robertson has agreed to lodge the amendments that the committee wishes to make to the bill as a result of our considerat...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
As you said, convener, amendment 17 will implement decisions that the committee has already made. It will impose on the promoter a requirement to have an act...
Amendment 1 agreed to.
Amendment 2 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 3 is grouped with amendments 4 and 6.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Amendments 3, 4 and 6 have been proposed by the promoters to allow an increase in the space that is allocated to the electrical substation and to provide an ...
Amendment 3 agreed to.
Amendment 4 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 5 is grouped with amendments 7 to 11.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
Amendments 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 all deal with cable connections and routes within the wind farm and to the Scottish border.The promoters now propose that, i...
The Convener:
Lab
Do members have any comments?
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
I am sorry, convener—it is a mistake to listen to debates. If we are being asked to agree to the laying of extra cables, I seek an assurance that fishing int...
The Convener:
Lab
Fishermen are not allowed to fish within the wind farm.
Mr Home Robertson:
Lab
I am talking about the extra main cable to the landfall.
The Convener:
Lab
The cables from the farm to the substation will be buried.
Amendment 5 agreed to.
Amendment 16 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Section 1, as amended, agreed to.
Schedule 1Location of the regulated works
Amendments 6 to 9 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Schedule 1, as amended, agreed to.
Section 2—Power to deviate from specified locations
Amendments 10 and 11 moved—Mr Mike Rumbles—and agreed to.
Section 2, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 3 and 4 agreed to.
Section 5—Exclusion zones for navigation, trawling and anchoring