Offshore wind energy - draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan: social and economic impact assessment
The purpose of the social and economic impact assessment for the draft updated Sectoral Marine Plan for offshore wind energy is to determine potential impacts of Plan implementation on other marine sectors, and the lives and circumstances of people and their families.
Overview
The SEIA identifies and assesses the potential economic and social effects of implementation of the draft updated SMP-OWE on other marine sectors and the lives and circumstances of people, their families and their communities. Potential impacts are assessed site-by-site and are presented at a regional and national (cumulative) level.
The cumulative negative impact considers the potential cost and gross value added (GVA) impacts across all sectors from each OA added together. The cumulative positive impact considers the increased spend in the offshore wind supply chain and number of direct jobs created in any one year. The in-combination assessment considers the potential negative impacts of the draft updated SMP-OWE together with existing and planned offshore wind farms in Scottish waters, proposed fisheries management measures, and NESO’s HND and HND-FUE for offshore transmission infrastructure.
The SEIA methodology has built on previous studies and has followed wider guidance on impact assessment including Scottish Government guidance on Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment and HM Treasury’s Green Book methodology. The approach applied is primarily desk-based and involved defining scenarios; identifying relevant marine activities and interaction pathways; establishing a baseline for marine activities and assessing negative and positive impacts, knock-on social impacts, and cumulative and combined impacts.
Impacts on commercial shipping (associated with diversion and increased steaming costs) make up a large proportion of the total potential cost impacts and occur across all OAs. Impacts on power interconnectors (associated with diversion of routes) and water sports (associated with displacement) are significant for individual OAs, with smaller impacts on tourism, telecom cables and recreational boating identified across Scotland. Impacts on commercial fisheries show relatively high impacts on direct GVA for a number of OAs, particularly in the North East and Shetland regions.
The positive impacts on the supply chain are reported by region and nationally. The GVA impacts vary considerably across the regions due to the amount of development that is expected and the retention rates that have been applied. Retention is expected to be greatest in the East and North East, but all regions see growth in their supply chains over project timescales. Highest overall levels of positive GVA impacts are also seen in the East and North East. Maximum positive GVA impacts in any one year are also greatest in the East and North East. Employment impacts are given as the maximum number of Full-time Equivalent (FTEs) created in any one year – as with GVA, the highest number is seen in the East and North East regions.
Potential knock-on social impacts are also assessed regionally and nationally, and are organised by impacts on communities of place, practice and interest. Positive impacts which may be experienced include job creation and access to higher-skilled roles or training opportunities. Employment and training benefits may be significant, potentially offsetting job loss concerns, with income benefits varying by region. Communities of place may see long-term positive impacts on facilities and possible flood risk reduction as a result of increased spend and re-development in certain areas. Negative impacts associated with service demand increases, visual impacts and increased noise levels may also be experienced.
Please note this document is available as a PDF only from the above supporting documents section.