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Our Impact

Environment

Cronos Energy is committed to minimizing its environmental impacts during construction as well as operation. Our approach to several key topics is outlined below.    

Environmental studies

As part of the development of Cronos Energy, a number of environmental studies, including an environmental impact assessment (EIA), will be undertaken to assess the potential impacts of the project’s onshore and marine components. 

 

The purpose of the EIA is to understand:

 

  • the existing environmental conditions of the area in which Cronos Energy would be built and operated 

  • the likely significant environmental effects that could occur during construction and operation of Cronos Energy 

  • the proposed mitigation measures that Cronos Energy will implement during construction and operation 

Cip 6

Low emissions, low waste, and low impact

By facilitating increased reliance on clean renewable energy, Cronos Energy will have an overall positive impact upon climate change and the drive toward net zero carbon emissions. The converter stations will operate with a low-waste policy, and interconnectors produce no harmful emissions and very limited hazardous materials on site; further, there is a negligible risk of any toxic substances leaching into the soil or marine habitat areas at any stage. In addition, it is not expected that significant amounts of dredging will be required on the cable route. 

Cip 3

Cronos Energy is committed to having a favourable impact on the environment, and in addition to its carbon abatement goals, the project will maintain good relationships with all key stakeholders including the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, English Nature, local nature conservancy groups, the local authority, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, the Environment Agency, Marine Management Organisation, and Crown Estate, as well as the corresponding stakeholders in Belgium. 

 

The project management team has experience running comprehensive stakeholder engagement processes during the development phase as well co-ordinating engagement with stakeholders during the EIA and with each statutory consultee. Cronos Energy has retained WSP Global, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms, as its technical and environmental advisor, and will draw on the resources of specialised experts such as botanists and ornithologists as needed. 

In terms of its potential impacts on the landscape and local viewshed, Cronos Energy will work with its chosen architect and the local planning authorities to ensure that the converter buildings and associated switchyard infrastructure are designed in a way that is visually appealing and harmonious to the local natural environment. This includes landscaping to reduce the visual impact of any exterior electrical components; the landscaping will be consistent with the local environment and incorporate a diversity of trees and shrubs to attract and create habitat for local species. 

At the decommissioning stage, the converter stations will be removed and the cables at the beach areas and near-to-shore will be removed without damaging the local environment.