Energy Act 2004

105 Requirement to prepare decommissioning programmes

(1) This section applies where—

(a) there is a proposal by a person to construct a relevant object in waters regulated under this Chapter, or to extend a relevant object in such waters;

(b) there is a proposal by a person to operate or to use a relevant object in such waters on the completion of its construction, or of any extension of it in such waters; or

(c) a person is constructing, extending, operating or using a relevant object in such waters or has begun in such waters to decommission such an object.

(2) The Secretary of State may by notice require that person to submit to him a programme for decommissioning the relevant object (a “decommissioning programme”).

(3) The Secretary of State may require a person to submit a decommissioning programme in respect of proposals made by that person only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that at least one of the statutory consents required for enabling that person to give effect to those proposals—

(a) has been given; or

(b) has been applied for and is likely to be given;

but for this purpose it is immaterial that a statutory consent that has been or may be given will have no effect before a particular time or unless particular conditions are satisfied.

(4) Where there is more than one person to whom a notice under this section may be given—

(a) it may be given to any one or more of them; and

(b) where it is given to more than one of them, the requirement to submit a programme must be satisfied by all those persons acting jointly.

(5) Before giving a notice under this section in relation to a relevant object which is to be or is, wholly or partly—

(a) in an area of Scottish waters; or

(b) in an area of waters in a Scottish part of a Renewable Energy Zone,

the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers.

(6) A notice under this section must either—

(a) specify the date by which the decommissioning programme is to be submitted; or

(b) require it to be submitted on or before such date as the Secretary of State may direct.

(7) A notice under this section may require the recipient of the notice to carry out the consultations specified in the notice before submitting the programme required of him.

(8) A decommissioning programme—

(a) must set out measures to be taken for decommissioning the relevant object;

(b) must contain an estimate of the expenditure likely to be incurred in carrying out those measures;

(c) must make provision for the determination of the times at which, or the periods within which, those measures will have to be taken;

(d) if it proposes that the relevant object will be wholly or partly removed from a place in waters regulated under this Chapter, must include provision about restoring that place to the condition that it was in prior to the construction of the object; and

(e) if it proposes that the relevant object will be left in position at a place in waters regulated under this Chapter or will not be wholly removed from a place in such waters, must include provision about whatever continuing monitoring and maintenance of the object will be necessary.

(9) A notice under this section may require the recipient of the notice to submit any of the following with the decommissioning programme—

(a) such information and documents relating to the place where the relevant object is or is to be situated as may be specified in the notice;

(b) such specifications relating to the relevant object as may be specified in the notice;

(c) such information and documents relating to the financial affairs of the recipient as may be specified in the notice; and

(d) details of the security (if any) that the recipient proposes to provide in relation to the carrying out of the decommissioning programme and for his compliance with any conditions of its approval.

(10) In this Chapter—

• “relevant object” means the whole or any part of—

  (a)

  a renewable energy installation; or

  (b)

  an electric line that is or has been a related line;

• “waters regulated under this Chapter” means—

  (a)

  waters in or adjacent to Great Britain which are between the mean low water mark and the seaward limits of the territorial sea; and

  (b)

  waters in a Renewable Energy Zone.

(11) In this section—

• “related line” means an electric line which is a line for the conveyance of electricity to or from a renewable energy installation but is not an electricity interconnector (within the meaning of Part 1 of the 1989 Act); and

• “statutory consent” means a consent, licence or approval required by or under any enactment.