Villagers Opposed to Industrial Countryside Expansion
A large group of local residents met on 25 May and 13 June 2023 to discuss the upcoming projects at SSE Aldbrough Gas Storage. There are many points for which we would like clarification. We also feel that as we are going to have to live alongside and suffer these significant expansions of your infrastructure, of which we will see no direct benefit (the energy you are producing) we have started to compose a Wish List that we feel may go some way to mitigate this significant industrialisation of our rural community.
Points for clarification
General
- What happens to a cavern when gas is no longer needed to be stored there, either temporarily or permanently at the end of the project?
- Can a cavern crumble or collapse? Can this cause ground movement above?
- What is the closest horizontal distance a cavern is to a property currently and proposed? Even though we understand it may be 1.8km underground.
- When Gas is moved in and out of a cavern is the rest of the space topped up and down with water?
- Why hasn’t the Phase 1 get down / beach access been put back to its original state if the pipe and access is no longer needed?
- How will you now protect the cliff as the Phase 1 get down / beach access has started eroding more rapidly. It is also eroding on the cliff top due to Run Off from land drains at the southern side thus increasing the erosion.
- Why does the site at Easington have such a Police presence and will this be necessary at Aldbrough with any of the potential projects?
- How more likely is an act of terrorism with the proposed projects, how would it be dealt with?
- What is a turbine for and what does it look like?
- What is an electrolyser for and what does it look like?
- Why did the public know about the Storage Project before the Pathfinder project and yet the Pathfinder project is coming first?
- Are the proposed projects likely to lessen the value of neighbouring properties? Local social media highlights that the projects are currently being flagged up by Solicitors on searches conducted for property buyers.
- What rates of noise and vibration on all projects can be expected from the routine workings of such machines as the turbines, electrolysers, converters and other machinery? The Pathfinder scoping report draws attention to properties in Fig.9.1. How will this be monitored?
- How are you going to ensure that larger vehicles get to site in the proper way? Please note that Horses use the local roads also.
- Currently (June 2023) why are lights on onsite during daylight working hours? (Viewed from the cliff top and the bridal path). Lights were also on at site 09.45 daytime Fri 26 May 2023, what is happening here? Does the site not notice?
- How many extra staff will the projects need for construction and then operation?
- How many jobs do you estimate will be taken up by local residents for the proposed projects both in construction and operation?
- Can all employees and contracted temporary staff be routed to avoid the smaller cut through road (Back Lane north) via East Village Meadows from Fitling?
- Do you have decommissioning plans? What are they?
- What is the environmental impact from a major explosion?
- We know that there is a structure to follow during all surveys but why do you not take into account valuable local knowledge as part of that? (Archaeological, ecological etc.)
- Can you explain why it is a “brown field” site and why an already industrialised area like Easington isn’t used?
- Do you take into account breeding seasons for various species when tearing up the ground for construction purposes?
Pathfinder
- How do you convert a cavern from natural gas storage to hydrogen storage?
- How will you deal with the brine removed from the cavern during conversion and operation? (Leading onto Q3)
- Is the exposed pipe on the beach going to be buried, cut off, or lined and reused?
- Will all of the Pathfinder above ground infrastructure be contained in bunded areas?
- Can you show us a montage of the additional infrastructure?
- What are the exact heights of construction equipment and then permanent structures?
- What additional screening do you currently have planned? Please annotate on a map.
- Will you plant in the next season?
- Will you have a choice of colour for the new buildings?
- Is Hydrogen more dangerous than natural gas?
- As this is a relatively new science, how can you assure us of the project’s safety for all concerned?
- What fire fighting equipment will you have on site?
- Why does it highlight “no concerns for wildlife” on the scoping report? (Lapwings on the Red list)
- What route will the pipeline take from Aldbrough to Saltend?
- If Pathfinder is a success what is the likelihood that the rest of the existing caverns will be converted and what additional infrastructure would this require?
Hydrogen Storage
- How many caverns are going to be created?
- How much tonnage of salt is going to be flushed from the caverns into the sea and what percentage of salinity change is expected?
- What effect does the extracted salt going into the sea have on the current Sealife (animal and plant)? Do you have data from Phase 1 as to the effects?
- How often and what volume of brine will have to be moved from Aldbrough to Atwick for discharge in the future or will the new project enable you to discharge from the Aldbrough site? (Leading onto Q5)
- Is the exposed pipe on the beach going to be buried, cut off, or lined and reused or is a new pipe and monopile going to be installed? Will this be protected by rocks?
- Is an additional get down / beach access going to be created? Would it be protected by rocks? If so, why can you not use the existing one?
- How are you going increase security of the site? Especially to the East?
- What area will have to be fenced off, please annotate on a map.
- How will you deal with the new Coastal Path?
- What negative effects is the proposed project going to have on the church, the mill and neighbouring properties (some listed)? Both in construction and operation?
- How will the new project affect the way of life of local residents and businesses? (ie. loud noises during construction may spook horses at a close business, people may not be able to sleep, unsociable lighting, traffic problems) How will you mitigate?
- Could neighbouring properties be damaged by vibration or ground movement etc from construction? Will this be routinely monitored?
- How will you deal with issues raised regarding noise and vibration or evening lighting disturbance? (One previous response to residents was that they had to get used to it because they will be living with it for a while to come!)
- What above ground plant and machinery will be needed compared to the Phase 1 site?
- What type of lighting will be used during construction and operation especially during 24hr working.
- What will happen with the bridal path? Closure? Reroute?
Dogger Bank D
- How big an infrastructure on land will DBD be if sited at the Aldbrough site and what is the proposed location?
- Please explain what a converter building is?
- Would it need a converter building what does this look like and where will it be sited?
- Where would the energy come onshore at Aldbrough and how?
- Will the coastline be physically protected to protect your investment?