Abstract
Applications under section 36c of the electricity act 1989 to vary the consents granted under section 36 of the electricity act 1989 on 19th march 2014 to construct and operate the telford offshore windfarm, the stevenson offshore windfarm , and the maccoll offshore windfarm in the outer moray firth. This letter contains the Scottish Ministers’ decision to grant the application and to vary the relevant section 36 consents.
The Scottish Ministers have considered the application documentation and all responses from consultees. Having consented the Telford Offshore Windfarm Stevenson Offshore Windfarm, and MacColl Offshore Windfarm on 19th March 2014, and set out their reasons for doing so in the decision letter associated with those consents, and being satisfied that the variations proposed in this variation application do not fundamentally alter the character or scale of the Development, whilst allowing a potential reduction of environmental impacts of the development, the Scottish Ministers are supportive of the proposed variation, on the basis that such a variation will allow the Moray Offshore Windfarm (East) Limited the opportunity to utilize most up to date commercially available technology.
The Scottish Ministers consider that amendment to the existing s.36 consents, will provide opportunities to potentially reduce the environmental impacts of the project by permitting a reduced number of turbines to be constructed through the increase the maximum rated turbine capacity from 8 MW to 10 MW. The Scottish Ministers consider that the amended s.36 consents are both reasonable and enforceable.