Energy / Community council keen to see wider visual impact of ammonia plant plans considered
A COMMUNITY council has called for consideration of the visual impact of a proposed ammonia plant on the outskirts of Lerwick to be widened amid the “growing industrialisation of Shetland’s landscape”.
Tingwall, Whiteness and Weisdale Community Council (TWWCC) made the suggestion in response to an environmental impact scoping process for Statkraft’s proposed ammonia plant at Tagdale.
The scoping request process involves consulting on what will be included in an environmental impact assessment for the development.
TWWCC responded by saying that investigations around the visual effect of Tagdale should be widened due to the cumulative impact of energy developments in Shetland.
The community council noted how the proposed Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) will “assess the likely significant effects, including cumulative effects” on a variety of locations within an agreed study area.
But it said: “One of the biggest concerns to the Shetland community at the moment is the growing industrialisation of Shetland’s landscape through a large number of proposed energy developments.
“TWWCC believes that the LVIA assessment for Tagdale must be wider than just the proposed receptors and must consider the wider impact of these developments on Shetland’s landscape.
“As such, the proposed study area should be much wider than that proposed.”
The list of proposed “viewpoints” for visual impact includes the Shetland Golf Club, Herrislea Hill, South Califf and the A970 road 1.8km west of the development.
Statkraft’s scoping request document said due to the site being enclosed by valleys and higher landforms, “there will be very limited visibility” of the ammonia plant beyond a 2.5km area.
But the community council also highlighted how Shetland’s local development plan aims to “maintain and enhance the natural heritage and landscape character of Shetland”.
The community council also raised concern about the potential odour/smell from the ammonia development.
It said that “anybody who has been in Lerwick when the wind is from the north-east will be aware of the impact that industrial odours can have”.
“The EIA must be absolutely explicit about the extent to which the smell of ammonia will be detectable to the local population,” it added.
The Tagdale plant could go into operation in 2029 if Statkraft’s estimated timescale goes to plan.
The development would be powered by the grid via the substation which is planned as part of Statkraft’s Mossy Hill wind farm, on the other side of the A970.
Around 150 tonnes of green ammonia could be produced a day, and a jetty would be constructed where ships can berth to receive the ammonia.
Statkraft said ammonia is a common ingredient used to produce fertiliser, critical to agricultural food production, and could be used as a carbon-free fuel.
With a capacity of up to 80 megawatts, it is relatively small compared to Statkraft’s other proposed plant at Scatsta, which could have a capacity of up to 400MW.
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