Reviewing Mitigation Methods for Offshore Windfarms

Tender description

There are ambitious targets for offshore wind energy over the next decade, with the aim to achieve a total of 40 GW of offshore renewable energy generation by 2030. To achieve this, installed capacity will have to increase by more than 30 GW from 2019 figures. In order to understand the potential for additional use of mitigation measures within the offshore wind sector, it is necessary to understand what measures are currently used and how effective they are, as well as whether there are other, viable mitigation measures which are not currently being used and the reasons for this. Project aims and objectives This review of mitigation methods is required to inform policy and feed into future proposals to encourage the more widespread use of effective mitigation measures in offshore wind applications in order to reduce the individual and cumulative environmental impact of offshore wind expansion. The review should consider mitigation measures designed to reduce the full range of likely impacts on protected marine species and habitats. For example, for seabirds this should include impacts due to disturbance, displacement, barrier effects and collision with structures. Mitigation of underwater noise impacts on protected species should also be included. This review should include consideration of all potential impacts from the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of offshore wind development, including cabling and cable impacts. It can include consideration of intertidal impacts and their mitigation; however, this should not be the primary focus.