Launch of Report: Avoidance and Minimisation of Environmental Impacts from Offshore Wind and Grid Infrastructure

In order to support the deployment of offshore wind and grid in a nature-friendly manner, OCEaN - North & Baltic Seas has identified 80 measures through which wind and grid developers can minimise potential environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. RGI is proud to have contributed to a new report summarising this work alongside a database of the collected measures.

In order to support the deployment of offshore wind and grid in a nature-friendly manner, OCEaN – North & Baltic Seas has identified 80 measures through which wind and grid developers can minimise potential environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. This work includes measures that reflect the first two steps of the mitigation hierarchy – avoidance and minimisation.

This was done by combining the fragmented knowledge on available avoidance and minimisation measures for offshore wind and grid infrastructure, including the most recent, relevant, and available information, and finding common ground between the diverse stakeholders that make up OCEaN. Furthermore, ‘best practice’ measures were identified, which are implemented across multiple sites and are proven to effectively reduce negative environmental impacts.

All of this work has now been summarised in a new report ‘Avoidance and Minimisation of Environmental Impacts from Offshore Wind and Grid Infrastructure‘. The purpose of this report is to outline the methodology used by OCEaN – North & Baltic Seas, provide a summary of the identified measures, highlight knowledge gaps and areas where mitigation efforts are still lacking, and provide recommendations on how to improve the deployment of offshore wind and grid to achieve even better outcomes for nature.

The report includes chapters dedicated to:

  • Overview of collected avoidance and minimisation measures for all life stages of infrastructure: project planning, construction, operation, decommissioning
  • Knowledge gaps
  • Recommendations for policy makers and permitting authorities
  • Best practices – inspiration for offshore wind and grid developers

We invite you to explore the report and then check out OCEaN's Mitigation Measures Database, featuring a summary of collected measures to help developers avoid and minimise potential environmental impacts on marine ecosystems. A full collection of these measures, their current implementation status, and real-world examples are available upon request.

It is our hope that this report and database will provide inspiration and guidance towards achieving a nature friendly energy transition at sea.

For questions, or in case you would like to learn more about OCEaN's work on mitigation, please contact Ana at ana@renweables-grid.eu.

Download the Report here

Contact

Ana Miljanović Rusan
Manager - Offshore Energy and Nature

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t: +49 30 2332 11024
ana[at]renewables-grid.eu

Charlotte Mueller
Manager - Communication

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t: +49 30 2332 11026
charlotte[at]renewables-grid.eu

RGI gratefully acknowledges the EU LIFE funding support:

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the LIFE Programme. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.