On this page

1.1 Introduction ​

1.1.1 Purpose of this document ​

1.1.1.1 Morgan Offshore Wind Ltd (hereafter referred to as the Applicant), a joint venture of bp Alternative Energy Investments Ltd (hereafter referred to as bp) and Energie Baden-Württemberg AG (hereafter referred to as EnBW), is developing the Morgan Offshore Wind Project Generation Assets (hereafter referred to as the Morgan Generation Assets). The Morgan Generation Assets are a proposed wind farm located in the east Irish Sea (Figure 1.1) and comprise only wind turbines, Offshore Substation Platforms (OSPs) and cabling in the Morgan Array Area. The electrical connection that transports electricity from the Morgan Generation Assets to an onshore substation will form part of a separate application.

1.1.1.2 This document is a Non-Technical Summary (NTS) of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) prepared for the Morgan Generation Assets. The PEIR constitutes the preliminary environmental information for the Morgan Generation Assets and sets out the findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to date to support the pre-application consultation activities required under the Planning Act 2008 (the 2008 Act). The EIA will be finalised following completion of pre-application consultation and the Environmental Statement. The final EIA together with an updated NTS will accompany the application for consent.

1.1.1.3 This NTS is intended to act as a stand-alone document that provides an overview of the Morgan Generation Assets and its likely significant effects in non-technical language. For more detailed information, the full PEIR should be referred to (www.morganandmona.com/en).

1.1.2 Introduction to the Morgan Generation Assets ​

1.1.2.1 Offshore Wind Leasing Round 4 was instigated by The Crown Estate (TCE) in September 2019, and four Bidding Areas were identified for the development of offshore wind. As part of a competitive tender, bp and EnBW have secured two 60-year leases within the Wales and Irish Sea Bidding Area for the Mona Offshore Wind Project and the Morgan Offshore Wind Project. The Bidding Areas are areas of the seabed identified by TCE as offering the least constrained (most technically favourable) areas for offshore wind development.

1.1.2.2 The Morgan Offshore Wind Project was scoped into the Pathways to 2030 workstream under the Offshore Transmission Network Review (OTNR). The OTNR aims to consider, simplify and wherever possible facilitate a collaborative approach to offshore wind projects connecting to the UK National Grid. The OTNR is being led by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)) in conjunction with the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (OFGEM) and the National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO). Under the OTNR, the NGESO is responsible for assessing options to improve the coordination of offshore wind generation connections and transmission networks. As part of the OTNR, the NGESO undertook a Holistic Network Design Review (HNDR). The output of the HNDR has concluded that the Morgan Offshore Wind Project will share a grid connection location at Penwortham in Lancashire with the Round 4 Morecambe Offshore Windfarm, also located in the east Irish Sea. The projects are being developed by separate companies, which means it is not feasible for all aspects of both projects to be consented under a single application. The Applicant agrees with the outcome of the HNDR and will progress a DCO application with the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm for the two electrically separate grid connections. This will include the sharing of offshore and onshore export cable corridors and a grid connection location at Penwortham.

1.1.2.3 Given the coordinated grid connection arrangements, the consenting strategy for the Morgan Offshore Wind Project and the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm is as follows:

  • A stand-alone Development Consent Order (DCO) application to consent the construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning of the generation assets of the Morgan Offshore Wind Project
  • A stand-alone DCO application to consent the construction, operations and maintenance, and decommissioning of the generation assets of the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm
  • A stand-alone application to consent the construction, operations and maintenance and decommissioning of the transmission assets required to enable the export of electricity from both the Morgan Offshore Wind Project and the Morecambe Offshore Windfarm to the National Grid entry point at Penwortham.

1.1.2.4 This PEIR, and associated NTS, is for the generation assets of the Morgan Offshore Wind Project.

1.1.3 Structure of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report ​

1.1.3.1 The PEIR is divided into four volumes:

  • Volume 1: Introduction
  • Volume 2: Offshore chapters
  • Volume 3: Introduction annexes
  • Volume 4: Offshore annexes.

1.1.4 About the Applicant ​

1.1.4.1 The Applicant is a joint venture between bp and EnBW, two leading energy companies. These two companies are working together as partners to deliver offshore wind projects in the UK.

  • bp has set out an ambition to be a net zero company by 2050, or sooner. This strategy will see bp transform from an international oil company producing oil and gas, to an integrated energy company providing broader energy solutions to customers

  • EnBW is one of the largest energy supply companies in Germany and supplies electricity, gas, water and energy solutions and energy industry services to around 5.5 million customers with a workforce of more than 23,000 employees. EnBW aims to strengthen its position as a sustainable and innovative infrastructure partner for customers, citizens and local authorities.

1.1.5 How you can get involved ​

1.1.5.1 This PEIR is intended to allow those taking part in the consultation to understand the nature, scale, location and likely significant effects of the Morgan Generation Assets, such that they can make an informed contribution to the process of pre-application consultation under the 2008 Act and to the EIA process. It is important to note that the PEIR contains preliminary information. The Applicant will be actively seeking feedback on the PEIR from statutory consultees and interested parties. Information on how you can get involved is outlined in section 1.8.