EIA Scoping Report submitted to Marine Directorate

CampionWind (a Shell and ScottishPower joint venture) has submitted an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report for the offshore windfarm array area of the proposed CampionWind project to the Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT).

This report sets out the proposed approach to the project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), providing baseline data sources and methodologies, covering the potential effects on commercial fisheries, terrestrial ecology and ornithology, and socio-economics of the surrounding area.

It aims to provide stakeholders with information on the project and takes a parameter-based scenario approach. It considers a maximum design scenario while allowing the flexibility to make improvements in the future in ways that cannot be predicted at the time of submission of the consent and licence applications.

Due to ongoing discussions with the National Energy System Operator (NESO) regarding the outcome of the Holistic Network Design Follow Up Exercise (HND FUE), the grid connection location and timelines for CampionWind are currently unknown. Therefore, separate scoping and consent applications will be submitted for the proposed offshore windfarm array area and transmission infrastructure. The latter will be progressed following confirmation of the grid connection location and timelines.

Along with our stakeholder consultation process, the report will enable a refined scope for the EIA and ensure it covers a comprehensive examination of the project’s possible environmental impacts, focuses on key issues and outlines engagement on the topics to be addressed with stakeholders.

Once fully commissioned, CampionWind could deliver in excess of 2GW clean renewable energy. That’s enough green electricity to power the equivalent of more than 2.5 million homes.

Working collaboratively with local communities, businesses and stakeholders, CampionWind will ensure that maximum value is brought to Scotland and the UK from this development through supply chain growth, skills development and job creation.

The CampionWind Scoping Report and appendices can be downloaded here in our document library, or on the Marine Directorate website.