UK: Natural Power Published Ecological Monitoring Programme for Marine Life on Wind Farm

The UK’s most comprehensive ecological monitoring programme for marine life on a wind farm published – provided by Natural Power, on behalf of E.ON, at Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm (Reporting on Operational Year 1).

International renewable energy consultancy Natural Power has published a report on the marine environment at Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm, on behalf of owner E.ON. This report is one of the operational year commitments under planning required for by the Marine Environment Monitoring Plan (MEMP). This approach to key environmental issues is similar to those used by the Danish, Belgian and German Environmental Monitoring Programmes in Europe.

Robin Rigg is the first commercial offshore wind farm in Scottish waters, comprised of 60 Vestas V90-3MW turbines. Prior to construction of the wind farm, a Marine Environment Monitoring Programme (MEMP) was agreed and developed in conjunction with the Robin Rigg Management Group (RRMG). The remit of the MEMP was to monitor key uncertainties and record any changes to the physical and ecological environment that may be caused by the construction and operation of the wind farm.

Natural Power has over a number of years utilised their experience and expertise to provide robust industry leading analysis. The methods and approaches for the long-term dataset collected as part of the MEMP from baseline, pre-construction, during the construction and during operational year one to assess the potential effects of the wind farm within the Solway Firth. Consistent and comprehensive data has been gathered on the diversity, abundance and distribution of birds, marine mammals, fish and shellfish that utilise and function in and around the offshore wind farm site and cable route.

Dr Jane Lancaster, providing the report concludes that there is little significant evidence that the construction and operation of the Robin Rigg wind farm has had any significant or permanent impact upon the marine life in the immediate or surrounding area. During the course of the surveys 38 species of fish and over 150 types of invertebrate have been found. Whilst in and around the site and cable route, 38 species of bird and 2 species of marine mammal have been observed. Site observations have also shown an increase in the distribution and utilisation of areas of the Solway Firth by cormorants and gull species in the area as well as potential displacement effects during construction for auk species (guillemot and razorbill).

The full report is available to download on the Marine Scotland website.

Richard Walls, Director of Ecology & Hydrology at Natural Power presented an abstract on ‘Best practice ecological analysis methods for UK offshore wind farms: Robin Rigg, Solway, Scotland and the integrated approach of Marine Environmental Monitoring Programs (MEMP)’ at the CWEA2013 (Conference on Wind power and Environmental Impacts) in February 2013 in Stockholm.

The Natural Power Ecology & Hydrology department has considerable experience advising on all aspects of ecological and hydrological projects, including all baseline surveying requirements, data collation, statistical & modelling expertise, environmental impact assessments, HRA, mitigation and monitoring. The company’s long history in offshore wind and expertise is in the provision of advice and surveys to all phases of wind farm developments (feasibility, EIA, post-consent, pre-construction, construction and operation/OFTO). In the past year the Ecology & Hydrology department alone have worked on over 15 offshore wind farms and 60 onshore wind projects across the UK.

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Press release, May 17, 2013; Image: natural power