Feedback
We invite you to provide feedback on our draft proposals using the contact form below. The deadline for comments is 24 September 2021.
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By filling in this online form, you are agreeing that we can hold and process your personal data in relation specifically to this public consultation exercise. We will only share your personal data with the Ørsted planning team for evaluation purposes only. Your identifiable, personal data will not be used for any other purposes without your consent. We will use your data to:
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Please let us know what you think of our proposal by filling in the feedback form.
The Scheme
Site location

Norfolk benefits from being close to one of the largest sources of offshore renewable generation, ranking it one of the parts of the UK electricity grid with the lowest emissions. The project will utilise technologically innovative advancements that contribute to establishing greener status as well as supporting greater stability of the local energy infrastructure and helping to avoid future network reinforcements.
The co-location of the EBI within already consented infrastructure will enable us to maximise performance by connecting directly to the electricity transmission system while minimising infrastructure and land needs.
Site selection
The site of the proposed EBI is located to the south of the Norwich Southern Bypass (A47) and east of Main Road (B1113). To the south and east of the site are Mangreen Quarry and Ipswich Road (A140). The proposed EBI development area is approximately 11 ha of relatively level ground. The site currently consists of agricultural fields and has access to the proposed EBI available off the B1113.
The EBI will be co-located within the same footprint as the Hornsea Three Onshore substation and will cross-utilise part of the existing planned infrastructure to maximise the use of this site, for example, the permanent site access, sustainable drainage systems, internal roads and vehicular parking. As a result, the Orsted EBI development is not proposed to occupy any additional space than previously consented within the Hornsea Three Offshore Wind Farm Order Limits. Similarly, we would plan to deliver the development within the same construction programme window (36 months maximum) with the aim of limiting disruption to the local community and road users.
Site layout
It is proposed that the EBI will have up to two areas of energy storage (depending on final design selection) of modular or containerised units to the north and south of the site (as shown in the site plan above). The temporary laydown area is also anticipated to be contained within the site.
Many of the key site features, such as the construction and operating access, boundary fencing, operating electricity supply, offsite sewage connections, landscaping and planting, will service both developments simultaneously, although the EBI will require its own short internal-access road and internal-drainage design for each compound area within the site.
Ecology and biodiversity

An ecological assessment has been conducted to quantify the habitat features and ecological status of the site. This information will be used to inform the detailed design in terms of soft and hard landscaping and the use of boundary vegetation. We will look to mitigate any impacts and enhance biodiversity of the site through the use of native species and improving habitat at the site margins.
Culture and heritage

The wider area surrounding the site features designated heritage assets including listed buildings, scheduled monuments and Roman remains, but the consented development for the site has been shown to not affect them directly.
The potential loss of undesignated assets has previously been assessed through the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted for the Hornsea Three Offshore Wind Farm. As a result, and in mitigation, an overarching and agreed written scheme of investigation resulting from the Hornsea Project Three will already be undertaken in advance of work in consultation with Norfolk County Council’s archaeological planning team.
Flood risk and ground conditions

Orsted has commissioned flood risk, hydrological and geological surveys to assess any potential effects caused by the proposed development during the construction, operating and decommissioning phases.
The proposed EBI site is underlain by chalk bedrock, which is classified as a principal aquifer, so measures will be provided to protect groundwater during construction. However, it is not expected that the underlying geology will be adversely affected as a result of the construction of the project.
As the flood risk of the site is considered extremely low, no additional mitigation measures will be necessary.
Construction phase

If consented, the EBI construction phase will take place within the 36-month construction window anticipated for the site consent and, as a result, will be less disruptive to the local community and road users than if we were to develop two independent sites.
It will be constructed in an environmentally sensitive manner and will meet the requirements of all the relevant legislation, codes of practice and standards adopted at the time of construction. Our proposals will also identify and offer mitigation measures for access and HGV movements (deliveries), working hours, housekeeping, noise and dust management, etc., by addressing best practices.
For example, Ørsted recognises that deliveries and construction activity can have undesirable noise, dust and vibration impacts on stakeholders near the development site. Most of the work will be in rural areas where background noise levels are likely to be low, so the objective will be to control and limit levels as much as is reasonably practicable and to minimise disturbance to sensitive receptors.
To manage any noise from construction activities, construction work will be undertaken within the working hours agreed with the local authority and in accordance with the best practicable means. This may include using quieter alternative methods and plant and/or equipment; installing site hoardings, enclosures; and maintaining and operating all vehicles, plant and equipment in an appropriate manner to ensure that noise from mechanical vibration is kept to a minimum.
Mitigation plans will be developed during the detailed design stage of the EBI to achieve an agreed noise rating level acceptable at noise-sensitive residential receptors.
Construction site hours

The standard working hours proposed are 7am–5pm Monday to Friday and 8am–1pm on Saturdays. It may be beneficial to carry out some activities outside standard working hours, for example, abnormal load or construction plant delivery; work within the highway or footpaths; or work affecting operational railways. All activities outside the standard working hours will be agreed with the relevant local authority environmental health officer.
Site access
Access to the proposed EBI is available via the consented temporary and permanent access off the Main Road (B1113), which will deliver good visibility for access and egress.
Operational site activity

The proposed site whilst being in operation 24/7 will be unstaffed and monitored remotely from our control room. Routine maintenance and concurrent corrective visits will be serviced by a small technician’s van via the established permanent access. Occasional HGV access may be required over the lifetime of the EBI asset, for example, to replace degraded batteries, which will be moved off-site for recycling.
The operational EBI will be relatively inconspicuous. Operating noise from the cooling fans, etc., will be mitigated and lights will be directed into the site.
Decommissioning
The consent application for the EBI will include provision for the decommissioning of the site at the end of its operational life. Should the utility-scale energy storage become partially or fully redundant, all the electrical infrastructure above ground will be removed and any waste arising disposed of in accordance with the relevant regulations. The decommissioning sequence will generally be the reverse of the construction sequence and involve similar types and numbers of vehicles and equipment.
About
Energy balancing infrastructure (EBI)
We believe that energy storage will play a pivotal role in creating a world that runs entirely on green energy. By installing energy balancing infrastructure (EBI), which manages the peaks and troughs in supply and demand, we can build in the much-needed operational flexibility required to deliver greener and more affordable electricity for consumers. This is done by storing and supplying energy from renewable sources whenever it is needed.
The National Policy Statement for Energy Technologies recognises that EBI such as utility-scale energy storage can effectively provide a time-shift between the production and use of the electricity. This means that more green energy can be used, irrespective of intermittent production. It can be used closer to the source of production and is able to respond to less predictable consumer needs. As we meet more of our energy needs through renewable energy generation in our attempts to tackle climate change, the demand for energy balancing services will continue to grow in the UK.
This means that more green energy can be stored, despite intermittent production, and can be utilised closer to source. The demand for these services will grow in the UK as we meet more of our needs through renewable energy generation as we address climate change and can support the complete transformation of power production from fossil fuels to renewables.
Our proposed EBI will contribute to addressing current and future challenges of the UK’s changing energy system, thereby ensuring that the grid remains stable and robust and can continue to provide affordable access to a wide scope of large-scale green energy production assets long into the future.
Find out more about our existing EBI operations in the UK here and in this video.
About Ørsted

Ørsted develops, constructs and operates off- and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities and bioenergy plants, and provides energy products to its customers. Ørsted ranks as the world’s most sustainable energy company in Corporate Knights’ 2021 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world and is on the CDP Climate Change A List as a global leader on climate action.
Our aim is to develop and deploy market-leading green energy solutions that benefit the planet and our customers alike, thereby further driving down the cost of green energy. By deploying renewable energy resources at scale, we want to revolutionise the way we power people and reduce the negative effects of climate change, which are currently some of the biggest threats facing the world.
Find out more about Ørsted and its vision of a world that runs entirely on green energy here.
Commitment to sustainability

Ørsted is now only a few years away from net-zero energy generation and has embarked on the next phase in its decarbonisation journey, which is to address the carbon emissions beyond its own operations.
Ørsted has committed to reducing the emissions linked to its activities by 50% by 2032 and to achieving carbon neutrality across the company’s entire carbon footprint by 2040, ten years ahead of the global target for net-zero emissions as required by climate science to limit global warming to 1.5ºC.
Through our Responsible Business Partner Programme (RPP), we will collaborate with our EBI suppliers and joint venture partners to improve the social, environmental and ethical performance of our supply chain, and encourage a wider commitment to decarbonisation.
ØRSTED EBI public consultation
The Ørsted EBI Environmental Statement
Ørsted ran a public consultation concerning proposals to install a utility-scale energy storage system within the previously consented footprint of Hornsea Three wind farm substation in September 2021. In it, we presented a forward-looking set of proposals that will deliver solutions to better balance how the electricity system works and ultimately deliver cost benefits to consumers within Norfolk and beyond.
We have now completed our Environmental Statement (ES) and other reports that will accompany the application for planning consent. You can access these documents here:
ES Vol 1
ES Vol 2
ES Vol 3
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 2.1 - Site Location Plan.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 2.2 - Layout.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 2.3 - Site layout in relation to Hornsea Three.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 2.4 - 3D View.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.1 - Viewpoint Location Plan.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.2 - Topography Plan.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.3 - Landscape Character.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.4 - Illustrative Landscape Proposals.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.5 - Indicative Landscape Proposals.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 6.6 - Indicative Landscape Proposals.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 7.1 - Site Location Plan.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 7.2 - Statutory Designated Site Locations.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 7.3 - Phase 1 Habitat Survey.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 7.4 - Tree Location and Bat Potential.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 8.1 - Traffic and Transport ES Study Area.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 8.2 - Accident Analysis 100m Study Area.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 3 Figure 9.1 - Cumulative Developments.pdf
ES Vol 4
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 4.1 Scoping Opinion.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 5.1 Outline Safety Management Plan.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 6.1 Visual Aids.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 6.2 Wirelines and Photomontages-HighRes.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 6.2 Wirelines and Photomontages-LowRes.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 7.1 Preliminary Ecological Appraisal .pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 7.2 Preliminary Roost Assessment and Further Bat Surveys Report.pdf.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 7.3 Stage 1 & 2 Arboricultural Impact Assessment Report.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 7.4 Biodiversity Assessment.pdf
- Ørsted EBI ES Volume 4 - Appendix 8.1 Transport Statement.pdf
Planning Drawings
- 07333810-A Site Plan.pdf
- 07333811-A Enlarged Site Plan.pdf
- 07333812-A Elevations.pdf
- 07333813-A Elevations.pdf
- 07333814-A Elevations.pdf
- 07333815-A 3D View.pdf
- 07333816-A Earthworks Plan.pdf
- 07333817-A Drainage Layout.pdf
- HOW030595_HOW03_OnCS_EBI_Site_Location_Plan_1_25000 (07289752_A).pdf
Standalone Reports
- Ørsted EBI - Air Quality Scoping Exercise.pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Cultural Heritage Assessment .pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Drainage Strategy Technical Note.pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Flood Risk Assessment LowRes.pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Ground Conditions Assessment.pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Noise Limit Report.pdf
- Ørsted EBI - Planning, Design and Access Statement.pdf