ABPmer Assessing Galloper O&M Facility’s Impact on Birds

ABPmer has secured a contract to assess the impact that the O&M facility of the Galloper offshore wind farm might have on birds.

Project operator and co-owner RWE Renewables is required to undertake two years of bird displacement and disturbance monitoring of the O&M facility as a requirement of its marine license.

Therefore, ABPmer has been appointed to oversee and report the findings of the 80 separate bird surveys. From this, monthly and annual reports will be prepared and submitted to the MMO on behalf of RWE Renewables.

The monitoring and reporting program began late last year and is due to be completed in June 2022.

“Post-consent monitoring is key to ensure the impact of new developments and activities is as expected, and if not, provides a means to deliver adaptive management,” said Natalie Frost, ABPmer’s Planning and Consents Business Manager.

“The programme will provide evidence of what change, if any, occurs in bird populations due to the O&M facility operating.”

Galloper comprises 56 Siemens Gamesa 6.3 MW turbines some 30 km off the coast of Suffolk. First power was generated in November 2017, while the 353 MW project was officially inaugurated in September 2018.

The O&M facility at Harwich International Port opened in early 2020 to deliver 24/7 management of the offshore wind farm.