Aviation - Development Issues
Session B5 | Day 2, Wed 26 Oct, 10.15-11.30 | Charter 1, Ground Floor
How have Aviation Development Issues progressed. Are programmes, initiatives delivering solutions? Could a more strategic/regional approach deliver better results?
• Chair: Simon Heyes, Infinis
• Marcus Trinick QC, Eversheds LLP
• Simon Christian, ScottishPower Renewables
• David Jones, RWE Npower Renewables
• Anne Mackenzie, ScottishPower Renewables
• Paul Askew, Civil Aviation Authority
| Chair: Simon Heyes, Head of Wind Development, Infinis Simon joined Infinis In November 2010 as their Head of Wind Development, working on a development portfolio of over 300 MW. Infinis has an operational onshore wind capacity of 173 MW with an additional 128 MW consented or in construction. Previously, Simon was Regional General Manager for onshore renewables at Scottish and Southern Energy, leading a team of over 90 staff. His responsibilities included development and construction of the 152 turbine Clyde and the 68 turbine Griffin wind farms. Simon is vice-chair of the renewable industry’s Aviation Investment Fund Company (AIFCL) and sits on the Government’s Aviation Management Board. |
Speaker: Marcus Trinick QC, Partner, Eversheds LLP and Chair of the RenewableUK Noise Working Group Aviation and the Onshore Consenting Process All wind farm developers are familiar with the wide variety of radar and other aviation issues which need to be addressed during the development process. The issues have been taken seriously by RenewableUK, as witnessed by the Memorandum of Understanding negotiated with Government and aviation stakeholders, the establishment of the aviation fund, and the employment of a full time senior member of staff to address aviation issues. Current issues being addressed by the Aviation Strategy Group of RenewableUK are the implementation of aviation solutions in South West Scotland, negotiations with National Air Traffic Services both in South West Scotland and in relation to offshore developments in the Wash, the MoD’s concerns regarding its Eskdalemuir seismological facility (not strictly aviation but managed by the Aviation Strategy Group), issues relating to Precision Approach Radar, and the development of technical solutions. The paper will look at current initiatives to resolve aviation concerns, and the issue of Eskdalemuir. It will discuss outstanding challenges including the issue of planning conditions. Marcus has specialised in Planning and Environmental Law since qualification in 1983. He has appeared as Advocate at about 420 public inquiries, including over 75 wind farm inquiries. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2010. Marcus has advised on well over 350 onshore and 25 offshore wind energy projects in the UK and elsewhere since 1988. He is a Board member of RenewableUK. He is one of the authors of the BWEA Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Energy Development published in 1994, was a member and one of the authors of the Working Group which produced 'The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms' in 1997, and advised the then DTI on the framework for consenting offshore wind projects in 1999. |
| Speakers: Simon Christian, UK Director, ScottishPower Renewables Raytheon Project Report NERL are the largest single aviation objector to wind farm development. A potential solution was first identified, by NERL and Raytheon, in early 2007; however it was not progressed due to a lack of funding. In 2009 the Wind Industry created a fund to invest in emerging technology and in conjunction with The Crown Estate and DECC have funded the £5 million required in R&D costs. The R&D Phase has now ended with a final report due in August 2011. This presentation will provide an update on the results as well as addressing the issue of rollout costs for the solution. Simon is responsible for the development of onshore windfarms at ScottishPower Renewables. To date, his team has delivered 20 projects with planning consents secured for over 1,750 megawatts (MW). Simon joined ScottishPower Renewables seven years ago and gained responsibility for a portfolio of windfarm developments including Whitelee. In his current role Simon has had a high level of industry involvement in addressing aviation concerns in windfarm development. He shares his experiences through the RenewableUK Aviation Strategy Group as Vice Chair and was directly involved in the establishment of the Aviation Investment Fund Company Limited. On its inception in 2009 he was elected Chairman of the Fund Management Board. |
| Speaker: David Jones, Aviation Solutions Manager, RWE Npower Renewables Aviation Risk: Does it Always Rest with the Developer? Significant risk is created when aviation interests and wind energy developments come together. Risk does not evaporate once agreement on mitigation has been reached, in many cases it escalates. Understanding the risks that developers are asking Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to accept when offering mitigation solutions and the risks that developers are likely to face when attempting to discharge conditions, which differs by aviation stakeholder, is key to the successful development of wind energy developments. The notion that all risk lies with the developer in mitigating the impact of wind energy developments will be challenged. Drawing on his past experience with a major ANSP, David will strip back the surface detail of the aviation issues faced by wind energy developments, focussing on the risks faced by ANSPs and wind energy developers as they attempt to create an environment where wind energy developments and aviation interests can coexist. David’s career has spanned a number of scientific, policy and management roles within the UK Government, primarily within the Ministry of Defence (MoD). David combined this varied experience in 2008 by joining the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (then Defence Estates), leading the MoD’s engagements with the wind energy industry in safeguarding it’s interests. In May 2011 David joined RWE Npower Renewables as the Aviation Solutions Manager, working across all areas of the business in resolving aviation issues. David was born and raised in Perth, Australia and holds Bachelor Degrees in Science and Business, and a Masters Degree in Politics. |
| Speaker: Anne Mackenzie, Aviation Manager, ScottishPower Renewables Wind Farm Mitigation: An Airport’s Search for a Strategic Regional Solution Glasgow Prestwick Airport is one of the busiest in the UK in terms of interactions between aviation and wind farms. For several years Anne Mackenzie has been at the forefront in developing innovative mitigation approached, in conjunction with the wind industry. This presentation will outline some of those approaches, highlighting the process, risks and challenges encountered in the context of Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s search for a regional aviation solution. It will focus on the collaborative efforts of the airport with its partner wind farm developers (including ScottishPower Renewables and E.ON Climate & Renewables) in seeking to identify and implement such a regional aviation mitigation for the airport. Anne Mackenzie joined ScottishPower Renewables as their Aviation Manager in August 2011, after spending six years with Infratil Airports Europe. At Infratil, Anne led the strategic safeguarding activities for Glasgow Prestwick and Manston Airports, engaging extensive with the wind industry. Anne successfully concluded Manston Airport’s mitigation agreements for Thanet and London Arrays and oversaw the mitigation deployment. Anne has been central to Glasgow Prestwick Airport’s efforts to craft a regional aviation solution for the area to the south and east of the airport (which includes SPR wind farms). Anne continues to be heavily involved in the development of the Glasgow Prestwick regional solution. |
| Speaker: Paul Askew, Renewable Energy Project Officer, Civil Aviation Authority Potential Impacts of Wind Turbine Wakes on Aircraft The effect of wind turbine wakes on aircraft is not well understood and as wind energy developments get closer to aviation sites, the potential for aircraft encounters with wind turbine wakes is significantly increased. The CAA has received numerous queries and reports form aviation stakeholders and wind farm developers. These reports are diverse and generally unverified making it impossible to improve guidance using this data. There is a need for further research to provide verifiable data and this session will describe CAA initiatives to obtain information enabling better guidance to be provided to the aviation and wind energy communities. Paul joined the CAA as the Renewable Energy Project Officer in July 2010 as the focal point for wind turbine planning issues within the Authority. He has spent 25 years in the Aerospace industry and has worked at British Aerospace, the Ministry of Defence, NATS and the European Space Agency. A Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society he is a Chartered Engineer with degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Systems Engineering and is currently studying with the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology at Loughborough University. Paul is also an Associate Member of IEMA and an ADR Group accredited mediator. |