Offshore Wind Energy Deployment in Offshore Wind Energy Deployment in the European Union the European Union Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment (COD) Deployment (COD) Environmental Issues Environmental Issues Ruud de Bruijne (SenterNovem) Elke Bruns (TU-Berlin) Working Group meeting Wind & Nature Conservation Brussels, 17 January 2006
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Offshore Wind Energy Deployment in the European Union Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment (COD) Environmental Issues Ruud de Bruijne (SenterNovem)
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Offshore Wind Energy Deployment in the Offshore Wind Energy Deployment in the European UnionEuropean Union
Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Concerted Action for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment (COD)Deployment (COD)
Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues
Ruud de Bruijne (SenterNovem)
Elke Bruns (TU-Berlin)Working Group meeting Wind & Nature Conservation
Brussels, 17 January 2006
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COD
Results: All relevant studies in database (286) Impacts lower than postulated Siting most important for mitigation and social
acceptance(Single case results only – generalisation limited)
Future: Cumulative effects area for investigation Planning tools cumulative & trans national level
(e.g. SEA)
Environmental impact
COD
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COD
BenthosIncrease of biomass & biodiversity
FishPositive effects. Negative impacts negligible
Marine mammalsNo effects on habitats
BirdsAvoid wind farm area. No significant strikes seen
listed scope of potential effects is generally approved
more knowlegde about effects on the factual level was made available
results from Danish monitoring and effect studies most helpful
But: few effects are quantifiable
COD
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COD
Main potential impacts (e.g.) loss of habitats due to disturbance effects / avoidance physical damage due to noise (ramming)
Results from effect/monitoring studies: no direct impacts (physical damage) stated avoidance of habitats was not observed
Recommendation: accumulation of effects and impacts on population stability (e.g. by noise,
disturbance) has to be monitored
Impacts on marine mammals
COD
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COD
Main potential impacts (e.g.): loss of habitats due to disturbance bird collision
Observations: higher collision risks for migrating birds avoidance of wind farm areas is also observed habituation / avoidance behaviour is species-specific differentiation between migrating birds and seabirds/resting birds needed collision rates: no reliable numbers
Recommendations: high priority: monitoring of wind farm related accumulative effectsmonitoring of collision risks (quantifying methods)development of models to support predictions of habitat loss and change
Impacts on birds
COD
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COD
Main potential impacts: habitat loss due to foundation / scour protection change of species composition due to artificial substrate
Observations: increase of biomass and increase of biodiversity possible exclusion of fisheries in wind farm areas lead to positive effects
Recommendations: monitoring of accumulative effects adjustment of evaluation standards (depending on local protection
aims)
Impacts on benthos
COD
Main potential impacts: disturbance effects during construction phase turbidity electromagnetism (follow-up effect)
Observations: consideration of isolated effects on fish stocks is difficult improvement of nutrients (biomass) due to artificial reef-effect wind farm areas may serve as refuge for fish (exclusion of fishery)
Recommendations: not available
Impacts on fish
COD
Up to now: single case results only – generalisation is limited!
effects on project level seem less invasive than expected,
accumulative impacts on the background of a high stress level are dominant !
avoidance strategies on superior level (SEA, spatial planning) are required
proper site selection seems most important for mitigation and social acceptance
pilot wind farms accompanied by a compulsory monitoring scheme