The presentation „Environmental Impact Assessment of Offshore Wind Farms” by Niels-Erik Clausen is a result of many years of investigation on offshore wind power at DTU Wind Energy (formerly Risø). It was given by Peggy Friis during 'Crash Course on Offshore Wind Energy' which was held on 26 October 2012 in Gdańsk. The event was organized by two partners of the SB OFF.E.R (South Baltic Offshore Wind Energy Regions) Project part-financed by the EU (European Regional Development Fund): POMCERT from Poland and DTU Wind Energy from Denmark. All presentations given during this event are: Introduction to offshore wind energy in Poland, Andrzej Tonderski, POMCERT Offshore wind power meteorology, Alfredo Peña, DTU Wind Energy Technology status, outlook and economics, Peggy Friis, DTU Wind Energy Design and construction of OWF, Witold Skrzypiński, DTU Wind Energy Environmental impact assessment, Peggy Friis, DTU Wind Energy Legal aspects and outlook for Poland. Grid connection, Mariusz Witoński, PTMEW All of them are available on SlideShare.

1. October 26, 2012 – GDAŃSK - CRASH COURSE on OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY
•
CRASH COURSE
on
OFFSHORE
WIND ENERGY

2. The presentation „Environmental Impact Assessment
of Offshore Wind Farms” by Niels-Erik Clausen
•
is a result of many years of investigation on offshore wind
power at DTU Wind Energy (formerly Risø).
It was given by Peggy Friis during 'Crash Course on Offshore Wind
Energy' which was held on 26 October 2012 in Gdańsk.
•
The event was organized by two partners of the SB OFF.E.R (South
Baltic Offshore Wind Energy Regions) Project
•
part-financed by the EU (European Regional Development Fund):
POMCERT from Poland and DTU Wind Energy from Denmark.

3. Environmental Impact Assessment
of Offshore Wind Farms
Peggy Friis (presenting)
Niels-Erik Clausen
DTU Wind Energy
Offshore wind crash course 26 October 2012
South Baltic Offshore Energy Regions Project
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

4. Outline
Introduction to offshore Environmental issues
The Danish offshore monitoring program
Key results from the program
Follow up 2009-2012
Summary
4 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

5. Environmental Impact Assessment
EIA
The EIA-report serves a dual purpose:
1. Anticipate the effect of a proposed wind farm on a specific area,
(technical assessment) and
2. To ensure that all affected parties, from the authorities to
various organisations and the general public, obtain a real insight
into the character and extent of the project in question
(information purpose)
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

6. The EIA report et WF lifetime
The project and the EIAs have 3 distinct phases:
Construction (traffic, type of ships)
Operation (traffic, type of ships)
Demolition (recycling or landfill)
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

7. Enviromental impact assessment at sea.
Which issues do we need to cover?
7 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

8. Issues to be considered
Hydrogeology
Designated areas
Morphology Benthos Tourism
Landfill
Fishery
Oil and gas
Geology Dredging
Birds
Archaeology Waste water
Flora
Shellfish Noise
Protected species
Intertidal Visual impact
Aviation
Navigation
Military and ammunition Transportation
Sediment chemistry Fish
Employment Coastal erosion
Flooding
Marine
Mammals Waste
Electromagnetic fields Disposal
Television and communication
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

9. Birds and wind turbines
Loss of habitat (IMPORTANT)
Deterioration or fragmentation of habitat or disturbance from
human activity
Collision risk (PRESS and NIMBY)
The birds are hit by the blades or hit the tower. Especially raptor
birds.
In general few examples with a conflict.
Altamont pass California, Golden Eagle:
A rare species + slow reproduction = great care.
Old wind turbines with lattice towers provide outlook post for the
hunting eagles
With modern wind turbines we have seen a conflict recently in
Norway at the Smøla wind farm (150 MW) in Norway. Nine white
tailed eagles were killed since 2005 where phase II of the wind
farm were opened.
9 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

10. Shipping navigation routes
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11. Marine mammals
Harbor porpoise
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12. Visual Impact
Simple Geometrical Patterns: In flat
areas it is often a good idea to place
turbines in a simple geometrical
pattern which is easily perceived by
the viewer
Turbines placed equidistantly in a
straight line work well, but the
example from Kappel is even more
elegant, where the wind farm follow
the contours of the landscape
Turbines on the dike at Kappel, Lolland
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

13. Visual Impact - colour
Light grey paint to make
turbines blend in with the
skyline
Green paint at the base
gradually changing to grey
(Enercon)
Red markings on blades due to
air traffic regulations (Germany)
Aviation lights
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

14. Visualisation Nysted wind farm
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15. Middelgrunden
Curved layout give a beautiful overall impression with a perspective
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

16. Visualization of new offshore wind
farm near the Great Belt Bridge
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17. 150 m height – distance 2 km
Source: Kystnære havmølleplaceringer (Locating offshore wind turbines
17 near the shore by The Danish Energy Authority and Sweco Architects2012
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark 25 Sept A/S
June 2012 In Danish

18. 150 m height – distance 4 km
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19. 150 m height – distance 6 km
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20. 150 m height – distance 12 km
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21. The Danish Offshore Monitoring
Program
PSO-funded program 1999-2006
All data publicly available
Program managed by The Environmental Group: The Danish
Energy Authority, The Danish Forest and Nature Agency, Energi E2 &
Elsam (now Vattenfall & DONG Energy)
International Advisory Panel of Experts on Marine Ecology evaluates
the outcome
21 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

22. Danish offshore wind farms in the study
1.Vindeby
2.Tunø Knob
3.Middelgrunden
4.Horns Rev
5.Rønland
6.Nysted
7.Samsø
8.Frederikshavn
80 x 2 MW
72 x 2.3 MW
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

23. Horns Rev 14-20 km offshore
2002
23 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark 25 Sept 2012
Photos: ELSAM A/S

24. Nysted - 10-15 km offshore
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25. Nysted location near protected area
Protected area for birds
2003 seal sanctuary
25 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

26. Monitoring program issues
Hydrography & coastal morphology
Bottom flora & fauna
Introduction of hard substrate habitat
Fish
Electromagnetic fields
Sand eels
Birds
Seals
Harbour porpoises
Socio- and environmental economic effects
26 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

27. Extent of program
Temporal variation
EIA/Baseline
Construction period
Operation period
Spatial variation
Impact area (wind farms)
Reference areas
27 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

28. Selected results
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

29. 29 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

30. 30 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

31. Final results at Horns Rev is expected
after some 5-6 years when the
artificial reef is mature. At Nysted the
attraction to fish is less pronounced
due to a development of a large
mono-culture of mussels of Denmark
31 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University

32. 32 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

33. Birds – habitat loss, methods
Aerial surveys are carried out spring
and autumn from 250 ft or 76 m
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

34. Common Scoter Horns Rev
18 surveys 9 surveys
34 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

35. Long-tailed duck Nysted
21 surveys 5 surveys
Note
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

36. Results - Loss of habitat
Both Nysted and Horns Rev were characterised by
low local feeding densities of birds, so major
effects on bird distributions were never expected
Temporary displacement (Common Scoter at
Horns Rev and Long-tailed Duck at Nysted)
Attraction to gulls – e.g. Herring Gull and Little
Gull especially at Horns Rev. Cormorants are
resting on the superstructures at Nysted.
36 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

37. Results - Loss of habitat…2
During the monitoring programme it was observed
that the Common Scoter stayed away from the wind
farm area after construction of the wind farm.
The number of birds in the area (outside the wind
farm) increased significantly. It cannot be excluded
that this reflects changes in the food availability
rather than a change in the behaviour of the birds
themselves.
37 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

38. Results - Loss of habitat…3
Long-tailed Duck showed a statistically significant
reduction in numbers after the construction of
Nysted wind farm. But the absolute numbers are
small and of no significance to the population of
the species.
38 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

39. 39 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

40. DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

41. 41 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

42. 42 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

43. 43 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

44. Marine mammals -harbour porpoises
a.Before construction
b.During..
c.After …
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

45. Foto: Nicky Pløk (UNI-FLY)
In January 2007 the common scoter was back at Horns Rev
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

46. Follow-up survey winter 2007
Over 3 days 356,635 birds
were observed
46 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

47. National follow-up research 2009-2012
Harbour porpoise – additional studies of effects of ramming and ways to
mitigate the effects
Common scoter (Horns Rev), divers and long-tailed ducks (Nysted)
long term effects of wind farms e.g. impact on the food ressource for scoters
at Horns Rev I and II
Fish – long term effects on fish population at Horns Rev I and possible
impact on fisheries interests
Cummulative effects of several wind farms in the same area
47 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

48. Measurement of underwater noise
emitted by an offshore wind turbine
at Horns Rev. November 2005
The overall sound pressure level
is mainly concentrated in two
spectral lines. The frequency of
these lines depends on the
rotation speed; at nominal speed
they are approximately 150 Hz
and 300 Hz.
The maximum levels at 100 m
from the turbine were 122 dB re
1 μPa at 150 Hz and 111 dB at
300 Hz. No sound emitted from
the turbine was found at
frequencies above 800 Hz
Source: ITAP –
Institut für technische und angewandte Physik GmbH
DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

49. Cummulative effects
49 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark

50. Summary
In general little impact is found on marine life
Birds seems to adjust and results suggest that loss of habitat can be
avoided
Migrating birds avoid flying inside the wind farms (low collision risk)
Harbour porpoises return to the sites after construction
Seals behaviour not affected
Artificial reef effect leads to added bio-diversity
In general high public acceptance for offshore development
NEXT: We are studying cumulative effects when we make several wind
farms in the same area
50 DTU Wind Energy, Technical University of Denmark