Renewable Energy Services Profi le

An expert, professional and responsive service throughout, in terms of project design, planning and strategic support.Novera Energy Plc

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Atmos Consulting provides energy, environment and planning services to the renewable energy industry, adding value to our clients’ investments during the feasibility and consenting phases of the project development process.

We have supported over 80 clients across the onshore wind, biomass, hydro and marine renewable sectors, from utilities and private developers to individual industrial sites and community groups. Our accreditation to ISO 9001:2008 confi rms the consistency and quality of our project management and technical expertise.

With experience of hundreds of feasibility studies, project designs and environmental impact assessments, Atmos Consulting provides objective, commercially pragmatic advice which has helped our clients achieve consents faster and more consistently than industry standards.

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Our ExpertiseEnergy – Environment – Planning

Our business is structured around 3 core competencies – energy, environment and planning – which together allow us to deliver a complete service to renewable energy developers. ‘Energy’ encompasses our technical and engineering skills, ‘environment’ includes our EIA specialisms such as ecology, ornithology and landscape assessment, while ‘planning’ refers to our strategic and local planning policy expertise.

We have been trusted to provide expert advice on renewable energy projects by over 80 clients, including Scottish and Southern Energy, Eon Climate and Renewables and Forth Ports.

Our clients benefi t both from individual skills and from the close interaction of our teams, supported by strong project management across the company. As well as delivering a consistent service, our approach fosters innovation and problem-solving.

We are delighted with the work undertaken by Atmos Consulting

on our behalf... We have found those at Atmos Consulting who we worked with to be personable and responsive.ANNA KENNY, RAASAY ENERGY ACTION PROJECT

The Atmos Consulting GIS team has developed a method to assess the risks of ice throw by combining a statistical model of the distribution of thrown particles with a map of footpath usage around a wind farm in a mountain environment.

Atmos Consulting ecologists were part of a team which researched collisions between geese and wind turbines. As a result of our research and analysis, avoidance rates defined by statutory guidance were increased.

Atmos Consulting technicians have developed WindScanTM, a unique offshore wind resource tool based on satellite data which gives high resolution global coverage of wind speed and direction for the last 20 years. WindScanTM has recently been validated by Germanischer Lloyd.

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Our track recordOver 500MW of renewable capacity consented;�_A further 2000MW capacity in preparation or planning;�_Unique experience of community, industrial and greenfi eld renewable projects; �_Feasibility studies for over 330 sites;�_Management and specialist input to over 125 Environmental Impact Assessments;�_Successful completion of projects for over 80 different organisations of diverse scales;�_Internationally recognised protected species and habitats expertise.�_

The majority of our work is in onshore wind but we are increasingly asked to provide support in relation to other renewable technologies.

What you can expect from usA responsive, informed, commercially pragmatic approach;�_A focus on increasing the value of your investment while minimising risk; �_Rigorous project management accredited to ISO 9001:2008;�_Objective advice giving confi dence that legislative and statutory requirements are met.�_

The majority of our sales are repeat business. We develop long term working relationships with our clients because we provide a proactive, expert service based on a thorough understanding of clients’ needs.

Project examples include:Feasibility of 6 large scale biomass projects in Wales and southern England and retained �_ecological advisor to major UK utility on their biomass developments;Environmental Impact Assessment for 3 run of river hydro schemes in Highland Scotland;�_Ecological Impact Assessment of a commercial scale tidal development;�_Offshore wind resource profiling for UK Round 3, North Sea, China and India.�_

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We relied heavily on Atmos Consulting forinformation and advice. They responded superbly, answering all our questions with

care and patience and making us feel they were very much on our side. Their track record of experience and their wide range of skills was invaluable in getting ourenvironmental statement ready.POINT POWER AND ENERGY LTD

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Renewable Energy CapabilitiesEach of our projects benefi ts from our structured approach to understanding risk, optimising value and achieving consent.

We are typically involved at the early feasibility stage when signifi cant investment decisions are being considered. We then work closely with the client, internal specialists and consultees through an iterative design optimisation and assessment process, frequently continuing to guide projects through the determination phase on behalf of clients. We have also embedded a rigorous ‘lessons learned’ process within our quality system to provide feedback to improve future projects.

FeasibilityWe typically offer two levels of feasibility study:

An initial feasibility study screens sites using our own data library, publicly available information and staff �_expertise to determine site suitability;A detailed feasibility study determines the viability and value of development through assessing potential �_ROI, technical and consenting risks.

Clients benefi t from our structured approach to site visits, GIS analysis and portfolio evaluation, as well as our ongoing research into key issues such as planning precedent and constraints.

In-house skills: GIS, electrical engineering, access, EMI/radar, ecology, ornithology, resource assessment, fi nancial modelling, planning policy, visualisation.

Atmos Consulting is retained by Scottish and Southern Energy to advise on wind energy projects up to 20MW throughout the UK. To date, we have reviewed over 300 potential sites, providing technical, environmental and planning analysis. Selected sites are now progressing from feasibility to consenting phases.

DeterminationIn the current climate with a high level of application activity, proactive dialogue with

the planners and statutory consultees is critical to ensure that proposals are given the appropriate level of attention and that planning conditions can be discharged effectively.

Atmos Consulting’s experienced planners draw upon professional experience of both consulting and local government to expedite planning consent for our clients. We support clients throughout the determination phase, from consultation with the relevant agencies and face-to-face meetings with local planners, to the presentation of the case for the development at planning committee and provision of experienced expert planning witness services.

We also monitor evolving planning policy at a national and local level, alert clients to changes that may impact on their projects, and maintain a database of planning decisions which can be valuable on both a strategic and project-specifi c basis.

Atmos Consulting has been commissioned to provide an analysis of the impact of changes to the Scottish planning system to a major utility, with a particular focus on the new appeals procedures and the implications of the variations in schemes of delegation between various local authorities.

FeasibilityWe typically offer two levels of feasibility study:

An initial feasibility study screens sites using our own data library, publicly available information and staff

DeterminationIn the current climate with a high level of application activity, proactive dialogue with

the planners and statutory consultees is critical to ensure that proposals are given the appropriate level of attention and that planning conditions can be discharged effectively.

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OptimisationIterative project designs, informed by the results of

consultations and baseline surveys, help our clients balance planning, environmental and technical requirements to minimise

risk and optimise value. Our robust design process includes production of a Design Risk Register for reference during

subsequent tendering and construction phases.

In-house skills: technical site design, landscape, ecology, ornithology, noise monitoring, planning policy.

Atmos Consulting was commissioned to evaluate the financial implications of various felling options for a large wind farm proposal in a commercial forest plantation. Comparison of options within GIS, wind flow modelling and financial appraisal were all conducted in-house and a report delivered to the client within 3 weeks.

Atmos Consulting undertook a major study of golden eagle use of a wind farm area, combining effort-corrected modelling within GIS software with ecological and wind

resource assessment to identify suitable areas for development. The work successfully confirmed the potential for a major wind farm which avoided areas of intense eagle activity.

AssessmentAtmos Consulting’s approach to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to satisfy the requirements of the statutory authorities, whilst maximising the value of the project and ensuring seamless handover to the construction

team post consent.

An effective EIA process requires the right specialists, clear project management and well structured involvement of the client and other relevant parties:

We provide the majority of specialist expertise in-house and have an approved �_supplier procedure to outsource work;We offer an ISO accredited project management team, clearly structured and with fully �_

developed procedures to manage various work streams and deliver an integrated optimum project design;

We appreciate that the EIA document is only part of the �_process of securing permission for a project - we are used to operating in a competitive and political environment where knowledge of local issues can be translated into additional support for the project.

In-house skills: ecology, ornithology, noise, aviation, shadow fl icker, access logistics, socio-economic impact, landscape and visualisation studies.

All of our major EIA projects benefit from a detailed project programme which allows critical path items to be identified and the implications of changes to scope or specification monitored.

OptimisationIterative project designs, informed by the results of

consultations and baseline surveys, help our clients balance planning, environmental and technical requirements to minimise

risk and optimise value. Our robust design process includes production of a Design Risk Register for reference during

AssessmentAtmos Consulting’s approach to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is to satisfy the requirements of the statutory authorities, whilst maximising the value of the project and ensuring seamless handover to the construction

team post consent.

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Our servicesWe can offer any combination of the services listed below:- Project management- Feasibility studies- EIA- Planning policy- Landscape, seascape and visual assessment- Ecological and ornithological survey and assessment- Noise monitoring and analysis- Resource assessment, site design and optimisation- GIS mapping and analysis- Aviation and radar- Electrical design & grid capacity analysis- Access design including swept path analysis- EMI analysis and mitigation- Due diligence- Public inquiry management and expert witness

Our team would be delighted to hear from you.

For general enquiries Call: 0131 672 1888 Email: info@atmosconsulting.comOr visit our website: www.atmosconsulting.com

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Exceptionally well done in all respects...

how Atmos Consulting managed to acquire such

diverse specifi c information respecting such complex

subjects in a relatively short time and then present it so

effectively is quite amazing.

BARRA AND VATERSAY COMMUNITY LTD

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atmosconsulting.com

Tower Mains Studio18G Liberton Brae,Edinburgh, EH16 6AET: 0131 672 1888F: 0131 672 1999

In-Business Centre,Stadium Business Park,24 Longman Drive,Inverness, IV1 1SUT: 01463 259209

Mynydd AwelMold Business ParkMaes Gwern, Mold, CH7 1XNT: 01352 744512F: 01352 700291

Atmos Consulting LimitedUnit B2, Durham Dales Centre,Castle Gardens, StanhopeCounty Durham, DL13 2FJT: 07833 240750