Review of Environmental Data Associated with Post-Consent Monitoring of Licence Conditions of Offshore Wind Farms

Marine Management Organisation (MMO) (2014). Review of Environmental Data Associated with Post-Consent Monitoring of Licence Conditions of Offshore Wind Farms (Report No. MMO 1031). Report by British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). Report for Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

@techreport{Marine-Management-Organisation-MMO-2014-4538,
author = {Marine Management Organisation (MMO)},
title = {Review of Environmental Data Associated with Post-Consent Monitoring of Licence Conditions of Offshore Wind Farms},
institution = {British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)},
year = {2014},
month = {apr},
number = {MMO 1031},
url = {https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-environmental-data-mmo-1031},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Noise, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals},
}

Export Citation to BibTex

TY - RPRT
TI - Review of Environmental Data Associated with Post-Consent Monitoring of Licence Conditions of Offshore Wind Farms
AU - Marine Management Organisation (MMO)
AB - This report examines outcomes and conclusions from monitoring regimes undertaken as a result of statutory requirements imposed on developers of OWFs in UK waters through consent conditions.Consent conditions are typically developed between the regulator (advisors and stakeholders) and developer as a project evolves. The terms of the consent conditions are translated into monitoring specifications which are required to be undertaken for defined durations. The consent conditions require that the outcomes of these monitoring programmes are subsequently reported to the regulator.The monitoring requirements are largely driven to:validate predictions made in an EIA or HRAdetect any unforeseen impactsensure compliance with measures identified in assessments to mitigate significant impacts.Two important considerations for monitoring are:Uncertainty – the extent of error or assumptions that were made in calculating the impact. The higher the degree of uncertainty, the greater the need to monitorSignificance – the extent to which the identified impact is deemed significant. The aims of this report are to: Provide a review of the extent to which data collected through post-consent monitoring has enhanced the evidence base on direct and indirect impacts of OWFs both at the site, and generic levelExplore whether the rationale and objectives of the post-consent monitoring conditions are appropriate, proportionate and achievable, and whether monitoring strategies and licence conditions are presently fit for purpose or require amendmentProduce a list of recommendations to improve monitoring in the future and ensure that data collection is targeted at areas where the largest risks and uncertainties remain. To achieve these aims the study has been undertaken in three tasks listed below: Task 1: Site-specific reviewTask 2: Synthesis review of evidence gathered from all Offshore Wind projects (i.e. as documented through Task 1)Task 3: Recommendations on a framework for identifying and implementing future post-consent monitoring.Review of post consent offshore wind farm monitoringThis report describes the outputs from Tasks 2 and 3. More detailed results from Task 1 will be published separately.
DA - 2014/04//
PY - 2014
SP - 208
PB - British Trust for Ornithology (BTO)
SN - MMO 1031
UR - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-environmental-data-mmo-1031
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Noise
KW - Birds
KW - Ecosystem Processes
KW - Fish
KW - Invertebrates
KW - Marine Mammals
ER -

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Abstract

This report examines outcomes and conclusions from monitoring regimes undertaken as a result of statutory requirements imposed on developers of OWFs in UK waters through consent conditions.

Consent conditions are typically developed between the regulator (advisors and stakeholders) and developer as a project evolves. The terms of the consent conditions are translated into monitoring specifications which are required to be undertaken for defined durations. The consent conditions require that the outcomes of these monitoring programmes are subsequently reported to the regulator.

The monitoring requirements are largely driven to:

validate predictions made in an EIA or HRA
detect any unforeseen impacts
ensure compliance with measures identified in assessments to mitigate significant impacts.

Two important considerations for monitoring are:

Uncertainty – the extent of error or assumptions that were made in calculating the impact. The higher the degree of uncertainty, the greater the need to monitor
Significance – the extent to which the identified impact is deemed significant.

The aims of this report are to:

Provide a review of the extent to which data collected through post-consent monitoring has enhanced the evidence base on direct and indirect impacts of OWFs both at the site, and generic level
Explore whether the rationale and objectives of the post-consent monitoring conditions are appropriate, proportionate and achievable, and whether monitoring strategies and licence conditions are presently fit for purpose or require amendment
Produce a list of recommendations to improve monitoring in the future and ensure that data collection is targeted at areas where the largest risks and uncertainties remain.

To achieve these aims the study has been undertaken in three tasks listed below:

Task 1: Site-specific review
Task 2: Synthesis review of evidence gathered from all Offshore Wind projects (i.e. as documented through Task 1)
Task 3: Recommendations on a framework for identifying and implementing future post-consent monitoring.

Review of post consent offshore wind farm monitoring

This report describes the outputs from Tasks 2 and 3. More detailed results from Task 1 will be published separately.