ENERGY ACT 2004: REQUIREMENT TO PREPARE DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAMMES FOR OFFSHORE INSTALLATIONS UNDER SECTION 105.
NOTICE PUBLICISING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD FOR THE SOFIA OFFSHORE WIND FARM DECOMMISSIONING PROGRAMME
Sofia Offshore Wind Farm, previously known as Dogger Bank Teeside B, is a consented offshore wind farm located approximately 165km off the north east coast of England (the “Project”). The Project is being progressed by Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Limited (“SOWFL”). The onshore civil works for the Project are due to commence in 2021,with offshore construction due to start from 2022
The Project is consented under the Dogger Bank Teesside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015 as amended (the “DCO”). Schedule 1, Part 3, Requirement 15 of the DCO specifies that no offshore works may commence until a written Decommissioning Programme has been submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in accordance with any notice issued under Section 105(2) of the Energy Act 2004
The purpose of the Decommissioning Programme is to provide preliminary information on the methods and approaches to how the offshore components will be decommissioned at the end of the operational lifetime of the Project
Further to the granting of the DCO, a notice under Section 105(2) for the Project was issued by the Secretary of State on 27 March (the “Section 105 Notice”), which requires SOWFL to submit a draft Decommissioning Programme by 31 December 2020
The Section 105 Notice requires SOWFL to carry out consultation before submitting the draft Decommissioning Programme. This includes carrying out consultation with prescribed bodies and making the proposals publicly available for at least 30 days in order to obtain feedback on the draft Decommissioning Programme
Therefore, in accordance with the Section 105 Notice, the draft Decommissioning Programme will be made publicly available for 35 days from 20 August 2020 on the Project website (https://sofiawindfarm.com/latest/publicationsdocuments/)
A free digital or paper copy of the draft Decommissioning Programme can also be obtained from SOWFL using the contact details below
Please send any comments or representations about the proposals set out in the draft Decommissioning Programme by email to SOWFL at comms_sofia@rwe.com, or in writing to Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Limited, Windmill Hill Business Park, Whitehill Way, Swindon, SN5 6PB. Please include the subject line ‘SOWFL Decommissioning Programme Consultation’. The deadline for receipt of comments is 24 September 2020
The final Decommissioning Programme will provide a summary table of the comments and actions taken following receipt and consideration of the consultation responses. Please note that any responses received by SOWFL will be handled in compliance with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation and published with all personal information removed
