The outline design was developed by an ex-CTBT seismologist who has previously upgraded many IMS arrays with boreholes in a similar way. A trial borehole was then drilled and operated at Eskdalemuir to collect site-specific data and validate the proposal, and the final design was thereafter produced.

The entire mitigation, including design, procurement, installation, commissioning and operation will be funded by the onshore wind industry. As per MOD radar mitigation scheme deliveries, the initial beneficiaries will fund the entire cost and recover the proportionate share from acceding developers.

Sensor manufacture is approximately 3 months from purchase order, and drilling the boreholes will take approximately 1 week per hole. Using two drilling rigs on site would mean a full 20 would comfortably be completed within 5 months, allowing a further month to install the sensors, commission the communications and begin the data integration process with the IMS. As seen with other upgrades, the data integration process with the IMS can be completed in a matter of weeks.

Float has been allowed for in the programme should any drilling issues occur. In order to mitigate long-term operational risk of borehole installations, it is proposed to cement the sensors into the base of the hole with all electronics located in the well head.

Full-scope CTBT-compliant equipment quotations have been provided by two UK companies: Guralp Systems Ltd and Gaiacode Ltd. Both can provide equipment within the necessary time frames and are known to AWE and the CTBTO.

Data from the integrated assets will be provided to the IMS via existing communications processes and in line with existing transfer protocols, all as set out in the IMS Operational Manual.

Yes. IMS assets are constantly being upgraded using boreholes, most recently in Russia and Senegal. The IMS Operational Manual expressly accepts that anthropogenic noise increases are anticipated near IMS assets and sets out how the assets should be upgraded or moved as necessary to address this.

Plenty. In fact, 50% of all IMS primary arrays are installed in boreholes, and the CTBT propose that all stations should be upgraded to them whenever possible. Boreholes are the recognised solution to increased anthropogenic noise worldwide and are effective across all topography, geology and land-use types.

Yes. The validation data provided via the trial borehole, the final technical design, IMS integration steps and all associated procedures have been reviewed by leading seismologists from the global community. All support the conclusions reached and concur that augmenting the Eskdalemuir Array with boreholes would provide an unparalleled asset entirely protected from all man-made seismic noise.

All. It is a permanent solution for the whole industry.

Our assessment is that 3–6GW of onshore wind and over 5GW of AI data centres will be unlocked via this proposal.

Once the mitigation has been installed, there will be nothing required from the onshore wind consenting process. No future requirements for public inquiries or costs incurred with the wind industry.

Nothing

Nothing. The developer will simply provide the final micro-sited co-ordinates as part of the normal planning process.

Growth opportunity lost: ~£10 billion energy investment and £50 billion AI/Data investment — loss of 5,000 jobs.

Boreholes are the CTBTO/IMS preferred method of installation of stations, tried and tested throughout their global network. This is confirmed by CTBTO/IMS founding Director Dr Gerardo Suarez and widely reported in CTBT literature. The UK Government can be entirely confident that it will work as a solution to mitigating seismic noise produced by onshore wind turbines, commercial forestry and harvesting. Separately, a recent study at Eskdalemuir by Dr Fabian Limberger, a German seismologist regularly cited by MoD/AWE, concluded that wind farm signals could not be detected beyond approximately 5km. This real empirical evidence, recording turbines installed in 2022 close to the array, guarantees there will be no operational impact from wind turbines.