Demonstration Tidal Array in the Sound of Islay

Challenge

ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) received consent to develop a Demonstration Tidal Array in the Sound of Islay, between the islands of Islay and Jura on the west coast of Scotland. It will be the first of its kind and is considered to be a Demonstration Tidal Array.

Solution

The proposed development will see ten 1MW Hammerfest tidal turbines installed in deep water (>48m), fully submerged on an area of the seabed within the Sound of Islay, just south of Port Askaig. These will then be linked by seabed cable to Islay, to connect to the grid via a substation.

SLR’s Place team were commissioned by SPR to prepare landscape mitigation proposals for the substation for the Sound of Islay Tidal Energy Project that will assist with the integration of the substation in the landscape. SLR produced an accurate 3D computer model of the substation, and this was used to consider the appearance of the substation in the landscape and determine options for an appropriate landscape mitigation strategy. The landscape proposals for the substation principally related to the colour of the substation buildings, a re-graded landform adjacent to the substation and proposals for native woodland planting.