Renewable energy
The rapid development of offshore wind farms around the UK has
increased the need to assess the potential environmental
impacts.
Before any new energy facilities are built, we provide advice to
regulators to ensure that licensing decisions are based on
scientifically sound evidence. We also recommend how robust future
decisions can be made.
Our experience comes from assessing the environmental and
socio-economic impacts of offshore wind farms at sites all around
the UK coast. Our projects have ranged from gauging stakeholders'
views (e.g. fishermen) through to carrying out ecosystem impact
assessments through pre- and post-construction surveys.
Current work focuses on the potential effects of wind farm
construction and operation on fish and marine mammals. In
particular, we are focusing on the level of noise generated during
pile-driving and construction, as well as potential electromagnetic
disruption as a result of sub-sea power cables. Such research will
help to underpin future offshore licensing decisions.
Cefas has worked within OSPAR to produce guidance
and reviews of evidence on environmental impacts and assessments on
the scale of the effects from offshore wind farm development in the
north-east Atlantic. As part of that, we play an active role
in the UK Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment
steering group and the Renewable Energy Deployment Environmental
Issues project board.
For more information about our work or environmental advice,
please regulatory_assessment@cefas.co.uk.
Relevant publication