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Challenges
Gaz de Normandie and the port of Le Havre have designed the project to minimise environmental impact. When such impact has been identified, specific support measures have been taken.
The environmental impact study was entrusted to recognised experts who are specialists in their field. Each of them had the task of carrying out an initial assessment of the area concerned and then of measuring the potential impact of the terminal and, finally, of suggesting to Gaz de Normandie measures to reduce impact and provide support so as to remove the impact or, if that proves impossible, to reduce it significantly. No significant impact has been identified.
The impact study was coordinated by Safège in Rouen.
Businesses entrusted with the works of dredging and backfilling the new reclaimed area will be asked to produce an Environmental Assurance Plan. The terminal construction site will itself be given a 'green site' certification, the aim of which is to select the companies according to their ability to ensure a high level of protection of the environment during the works.
Flora and Fauna
This part of the study was entrusted to Biotope for terrestrial natural environments and avifauna, in partnership with local scientists from the organisation Cellule de Suivi du Littoral Normand, who have a perfect knowledge of the marine environments on our coasts, having monitored the Port 2000 project.
Changes to the cliffs during the development of the current oil terminal was behind the creation of remarkable natural habitats and resulted in the development of diverse vegetation rich in rare species, some of which are protected.
Very precise identification of terrestrial and marine species (plants, fish, birds, marine animals) on the site was carried out. Incident reports have been developed to describe the potential impacts of the project upon protected areas near the project, as defined by regulations, particularly Natura 2000 areas.
The challenge is the protection of all species present on the site, particularly the marsh helleborine, the only protected plant species found on the site.
Water
Several works to distribute drinking water capture the water table present in the cliff’s layers of chalk, but none of these works is located near the site. Thus there is no specific challenge in terms of drinking water.
Studies of currents and modelling tests have been carried out by SOGREAH.
In terms of sea water, the challenge is the maintenance of the quality of bathing water in terms of bacteriology and suspended particles, particularly during the dredging/backfilling phase.
The Sound Environment
Acouphen Environnement carried out the acoustic study. Measurements of the current noise levels at the site were carried out, then modelling software enabled the resulting impact to be calculated, both during construction and during operation of the terminal.
The challenge is to maintain the noise level for people outside the boundary of the port site.
The Light Environment
Ingelux Environnement carried out the study of the current light environment and evaluated the terminal’s impact on light.
The challenge is to maintain current levels of lighting on the site particularly to avoid changes to the living conditions of species such as fish, birds and bats present on the site.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
To reduce greatly the emissions of greenhouse gases, it was decided to use renewable energy to provide the heat necessary for regasification of LNG: sea water. This process avoids combustion of fossil fuels, giving an output of around 200MW.
This process requires treatment based on hypochlorite whose impact upon the environment, according to IFREMER scientists, is not significant.
Heat exchange with LNG causes sea water to cool down. At the point of discharge, the difference in temperature may reach 6°C. At the boundary of the dock, the difference in temperature is no greater than 0.2°, that is, an almost imperceptible difference.
Emissions of greenhouse gases arise mainly from fugitive emissions of gas, from the combustion of gas by flare burners and by the operation of diesel engines (vehicles and fire pumps).
In total, during normal operations, the terminal will emit the equivalent of less than 575 tonnes of CO2 per year, that is, 0.003% of industrial emissions in Haute-Normandie in 2007.
Optimal Use of Energy
Operational buildings will be built to High Environmental Quality and Low Energy Consumption standards. This level of performance will be achieved through the use of a sea water heat pump.
Additionally, high pressure pumping allowing the movement of gas through the gas pipeline is fuelled by LNG and not natural gas, allowing greater efficiency and thus a reduction in electricity consumption.
The number of pumps and the interconnection of pipes allow for optimisation of electricity consumption according to the needs for shipments of natural gas.
Road Traffic
The road mainly affected by the works will be the RD940 along which up to 10,000 vehicles currently travel each day, 5% of them heavy goods vehicles.
The challenge is to carry out the works without a significant impact upon traffic.
