Part 2Sustainability and Renewable Energy Sources

Chapter 2Offshore production of energy

Supplementary provisions of Chapter 2 of Part 2

103Other amendments consequential on Chapter 2 of Part 2

(1)

In section 8 of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c. 29) (application of Submarine Telegraph Act 1885 to pipelines and submarine cables)—

(a)

in subsection (1), omit “high-voltage”; and

(b)

in subsection (1A), for the words from “pipe-lines under the high seas” onwards substitute “submarine cables and pipe-lines under the high seas includes a reference to submarine cables and pipe-lines under the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom or under waters in an area designated under section 1(7) of this Act”.

(2)

In section 23 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (c. 60) (meaning of premises)—

(a)

in the definition of “premises”, for the “and” at the end of paragraph (b) substitute—

“(ba)

any renewable energy installation;”;

(b)

after the definition of “offshore installation” insert—

““renewable energy installation” has the same meaning as in Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004.”

(3)

In section 10(10) of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c. 17) (section to apply to installations in transit), after “transit” insert “but does not apply to an installation that is a renewable energy installation (within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004)”.

(4)

After section 47 of that Act insert—

“47AFactors for the Secretary of State to take into account

(1)

The matters to which the Secretary of State may have regard, in exercising or performing the powers and duties conferred or imposed on him by or under this Act, include, in particular—

(a)

activities in relevant waters for or in connection with the generation of electricity;

(b)

proposals made by a person to carry on such activities;

(c)

the proposals that it appears to the Secretary of State may be made in the future for the carrying on of such activities; and

(d)

the likelihood that activities will in due course be carried on in accordance with proposals falling within paragraph (b) or (c).

(2)

The reference in subsection (1) to activities in connection with the generation of electricity in relevant waters includes—

(a)

the transmission, distribution and supply of the electricity generated; and

(b)

the doing of anything (whether by way of investigations, trials or feasibility studies or otherwise) with a view to ascertaining whether activities in relevant waters for or in connection with the generation of electricity are, in a particular case, practicable or commercially viable, or both.

(3)

In this section—

“distribution”, “generate”, “supply” and “transmission”, and cognate expressions, have the same meanings as in Part 1 of the Electricity Act 1989; and

“relevant waters” means—

(a)

waters in or adjacent to the United Kingdom up to the seaward limits of the territorial sea; or

(b)

waters in a Renewable Energy Zone (within the meaning of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of the Energy Act 2004).”