Abstract
The Regional Locational Guidance document has been produced to underpin the Further Scottish Leasing Round for wave and tidal stream energy in Scottish Seas. The initial Scoping Study (Harrald and Davies, 2010) identified six proposed areas in Scottish waters, two potentially suitable for tidal stream energy generation and four for wave energy generation, off the Scottish west coast and to the west of the Shetland Isles. Following comments received on the Scoping Study, we have included an additional seventh area, off the Shetland Isles.
Tidal stream energy sites
- West of the Mull of Kintyre
- South-west of Islay
Wave energy sites
- West of Colonsay
- West of Tiree
- West of the Outer Hebrides, considered in three parts:
- west of South Uist and Barra,
- west of Harris and North Uist, and
- west of Lewis
- West of Shetland
- South-west of Shetland
This document provides guidance to planners, regulators and potential developers on the resource and physical characteristics of the seven areas and potential for interactions with other users and the environment. The information is intended to assist in the identification of sites of opportunity within the areas previously identified in the scoping study, while highlighting possible sensitivities in the marine environment and surrounding coast. Data have been plotted using a Geographical Information System (GIS), which describe the following characteristics: the size of the wave and tidal resource, infrastructure, military, existing commercial uses of the site, designated areas, protected habitats and species, cultural sites and recreational uses. Although we have attempted to use the best available GIS data, the data quality and resolution is highly variable both between and within datasets and thus care is needed when interpreting the resulting maps.
The timetable for the Saltire Prize projects is very demanding, and, as noted in the Scoping Study, the first step is to locate suitable areas to deliver the leasing round within the short time-scale of the programme. These areas must not only possess sufficient wave or tidal stream energy, but also have the necessary infrastructure or potential to install it and avoid sensitive areas. Such an approach will not only reduce the potential for conflict or damage to the environment and other users of the sea, but also minimise the risk of additional delays arising in the licensing and consenting processes.
In brief, the seven sites identified all possess significant wave or tidal stream energy resource but have various constraints on development.
Overall, the areas that appear to most closely meet the requirements for avoidance of environmentally sensitive areas and minimisation of impact on other users of the seas are the wave power areas west of particularly west of Lewis and west and south-west of Shetland. Further discussions with MoD are necessary to ascertain whether there may be opportunities for tidal power development to the south-west of Islay and the Mull of Kintyre. Additional studies of the acoustic characteristics of devices may help to clarify whether these significant tidal resources could be utilised in the future.