New report shows how the expansion of offshore wind could be a catalyst for marine restoration
- New report from experts from conservation and energy shows how we can deliver offshore wind safely and help threatened seabird populations to recover and thrive again
- The UK’s coast and seas are home to amazing wildlife above and below the waves, however seabird numbers have suffered almost a 25 per cent decline, in less than four decades
- Through a new “Nature Positive” approach the expansion of offshore wind over the next decade can be delivered without jeopardising the UK’s efforts to restore seabird populations
A new report, published today by the RSPB, brings together experts in conservation and wind energy to look at how the UK can live up to its offshore wind commitments and protect our natural world. The report offers hope that with the right frameworks and political will, we can find ways to generate renewable energy at sea that will help us tackle the climate and nature emergencies together.
This year the health of our marine life and the potential for offshore wind to provide clean and sustainable electricity and deliver energy security have been brought into sharp focus. Avian Influenza is devastating the UK’s globally important seabird populations that are already facing numerous pressures as the nature and climate emergency impacts on our wildlife. At the same time, decision-makers are looking at how offshore wind can play a key role in the Government’s British Energy Security Strategy (BESS) to both help decarbonise our energy sector and deliver energy security.
Nearly three quarters of the UK is actually seabed, and whilst the view from the shore may look to many like a large expanse of undisturbed water, our seas are already a crowded powerhouse of economic activity with busy trade routes, fisheries and power through gas and oil extraction along with a rapidly growing renewable energy sector. The scale of wind farm expansion from under 15GW today to reach BESS targets of 50GW by 2030, and potentially the need to double this by 2050, will require a substantial footprint around our coasts.
To do this safely, and in harmony with nature, we must learn from the mistakes of previous generations that have left our marine ecosystems depleted and degraded by unplanned or badly managed practices that have left marine wildlife as an afterthought.
The UK’s coast and seas are home to amazing wildlife above and below the waves. However, the condition of this precious habitat is under threat and the globally important marine life is in decline. Official Government statistics show that seabird numbers have suffered almost a 25 per cent decline, in less than four decades, a loss of over 2 million fewer seabirds compared to 1986. And this is particularly prevalent in Scotland, which should be a haven for seabirds, where population numbers almost halved in this time.
Today, all bar one of the UK’s 25 breeding seabirds are Red or Amber listed on the Birds of Conservation Concern, and this is before conservationists are able to fully understand the impact of this years’ devastating Avian Influenza outbreak on colony populations.
With Government commitments to tackle the nature and climate emergency, there are legally binding targets for halting species decline and reducing greenhouse gasses by decarbonising the energy sector. The report, Powering Healthy Seas, brings together expertise from energy and conservation to better understand the factors planners and decision makers will need to take into account so that the expansion of offshore wind can be delivered without jeopardising the UK’s efforts to restore seabird populations.
Katie-jo Luxton at the RSPB said: “We have a clear vision of what we want to achieve; thriving seabird colonies and sustainable energy. However, the current system is not working. Energy companies are being locked into development sites that are problematic for wildlife and the Secretary of State is regularly being asked to make impossible decisions that may achieve our energy targets but only at the expense of our seabirds and marine habitats.
We need to change this, as the decisions we make today will have long lasting and potentially irreversible effects on seabird colonies that are already struggling. This report clearly states what we need to do at a time when decision-makers are beginning to plan new developments. With the right planning and a cross sector approach, we can achieve world leading ocean recovery and secure renewable energy, but only if we take transformative Nature Positive action, now.”
RenewableUK’s Environmental Policy Analyst Juliette Webb said: ”Not only are new offshore wind farms lowering our energy bills, but they also remain critical to tackling climate change, which poses the greatest threat to bird populations and our natural environment. It’s vitally important that we build well-sited clean energy projects to reach net zero as fast as possible.
We’re working with the RSPB to ensure that we develop offshore wind farms in an environmentally sensitive way which protects birds and support marine ecosystems. This includes adapting the location of our wind farms and providing specially-designed safe places for birds to nest at sea.
By bringing together experts from conservation and energy the new report is the first step towards developing a blueprint for how we can deliver offshore wind safely as well as setting the right conditions for seabird populations to recover and thrive again.”
The report looks at the need for:
- A robust ecological evidence base to inform environmentally conscious siting of new offshore windfarms.
- Country-level marine plans to provide clarity to marine users.
- Impact assessments that identify cumulative impacts of multiple developments
- Innovative industry standards, supported by government policy
- Adaptive management techniques that offer flexibility in the face of changing conditions or new information,
- Strategic compensation, where necessary, to ensure ecological impacts are appropriately addressed.
- A marine net gain system to help drive nature recovery and improvement.
As part of a wider Nature Positive approach, offshore wind could be the driver for change in the way we manage and protect our seas. This approach should address safe places for seabirds to feed with MPA management and bycatch mitigation, safe places to nest through a UK wide island biosecurity programme, and more food availability through the closure of industry sandeel fisheries in UK waters and improved fisheries management.
Read the full report here: www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/policy-insight/england-westminster/oceans-and-coastal/offshore-renewables/ [Note – this is the link given by RSPB, and it links to a useful page, but not to the report itself – will update this if that changes]
ENDS
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Clumsy, thoughtless action by civil engineers is a recurring theme at the moment – it halted onshore wind, we’ve had HS2, Sheffield Trees and the Railtrack track side massacre all of which have led to increased costs for the civil engineering operation and serious reputational damage. In almost every case proper planning and businesses that see protecting the environment as part of what they do rather than a ‘constraint’ mean there can be win-win outcomes. The thinking that sees trashing the environment as a macho part of providing renewable energy really has to stop. Getting it right for offshore wind will in the long run almost certainly mean we can find space for more, getting it wrong could yet again lead to early termination.
I don’t think the content in this document is particularly original or helpful.
It calls for a “transformative approach” but it provides no specific advice to wind farm operators about:
a) at what UK offshore locations wind farms would be acceptable?
b) should limits be imposed on the number of turbines?
c) what is the optimum height of turbines to reduce collision risk?
At present, operators such as Orsted can only guess whether their applications will run into snags with the RSPB. They are crying out for clear, precise guidance such as that offered, in map form, on the other side of the Atlantic by American Bird Conservancy.
Another shortcoming of this RSPB report, as others, is that it fails to take into account the impact on the flight of non-marine species, many of which migrate at night.
How many fieldfare and redwings perish on a misty October night when the turbines in the North Sea may be hidden from their view?
Birds have not had sufficient time to evolve in a way that might enable them to adapt to wind farms .
James – thanks for your comment though it would be possible to say that your comment is not particularly original or helpful. It calls for nothing and provides no advice to the world as to how to avoid the impacts of climate change without any impact on wildlife.
You’ll notice that the report was produced with RenewablesUK?
What is the maximum number of Fieldfare and Redwing deaths that you would accept for the electricity production of a large wind turbine?
Tricky isn’t it, making real world decisions?