The global impact of offshore wind farms on ecosystem services

Ocean & Coastal Management, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 249, С. 107023 - 107023

Опубликована: Янв. 21, 2024

Understanding the global impact of offshore wind farms (OWF) on biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES) is crucial in developing sustainable energy transition pathways. This study takes a holistic approach, coupling semi-systematic review with novel analytical methodology, to consider consequences construction & operation OWF deployment ES. 314 pieces evidence taken from 132 peer-reviewed studies provide basis determine ecological ES impacts. The process showed that impacts were predominantly negative across subject groups (52%), compared positive (8%) several species fish (e.g. brill, cod, dab, plaice) some birds common guillemot, northern fulmar, redhead) showing strongly trends. Operational phase more variable could be either (32%) or (34%) depending site specific conditions. More detailed investigations into fish, shellfish, humans air-surface recorded net effect farm operations these groups. Translation outcomes identified 14 are impacted by OWF. most substantially enhanced included effects commercial fisheries experiential recreation. Social acceptance toward new hypothetical was also positive, irrespective country location. Negative ES, including existence values for culturally important groups, e.g., marine mammals spread non-native species, potentially significance. Overall, this finds than 86% possible still unknown. There paucity decommissioning deeper-water floating structures, bias hemisphere developed countries.

Язык: Английский

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Towards understanding environmental and cumulative impacts of floating wind farms: Lessons learned from the fixed-bottom offshore wind farms

Ocean & Coastal Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 243, С. 106772 - 106772

Опубликована: Июль 31, 2023

Renewable energy sectors have been rapidly growing over the last three decades due to environmental concerns regarding fossil fuels and increasing demand of by human. Among those, offshore wind farms are one most attractive promising technologies for clean production strong steady winds, less turbine fatigue, visual space limitations compared onshore farms. Rapid development farms, which is expected reach 70% 2030, can effect on marine ecosystems organisms. Hitherto, different studies comprehensively discussed potential impacts habitats; however, they just rarely validated through observations. This review focuses proved gained from post-construction monitoring programs. Particularly, this study provides significant insights on: 1) area time span biological effects may occur, 2) responses disturbance target organisms; 3) quantification short/long-term effects; 4) recovery in long term. The showed little or only local environment, either during their construction operational phases. However, further research needed answer whether synergies determine consequences at population level. As number size increase it necessary consider level as well cumulative these activities ecosystems.

Язык: Английский

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Primary vs grey: A critical evaluation of literature sources used to assess the impacts of offshore wind farms

Environmental Science & Policy, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 154, С. 103693 - 103693

Опубликована: Фев. 17, 2024

The evidence-base for environmental and social impacts of offshore wind farms (OWF) is increasing with the exponential global growth energy sector. In UK, planning consenting processes are lengthy (7+ years) rely largely on evidence from grey literature sources. To meet 2030 2050 renewable targets marine net gain ambition, policy decision makers require access to best available data. Translating into ecosystem services (ES) provides a qualitative framework by which evaluate positive negative outcomes. We review synthesise UK (2012–2022) relating OWF compare reported ES outcomes those primary (2002–2021). Grey portrays (71%) view fails represent many in literature. literature, 28% positive, but this just 2%. Evidence gaps highlighted both types, major decommissioning outcomes, sparse Provisioning (8%), Regulating (7%) specific operational pressures. recommend types used achieve environmentally sound making expedite times.

Язык: Английский

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D2.3 EuropaBON Proposal for an EU Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC)

Опубликована: Май 22, 2024

Observations are key to understanding the state of nature, drivers biodiversity loss and impacts on ecosystem services ultimately people. Many EU policies initiatives call for unbiased, integrated regularly updated data services. However, monitoring efforts spatially temporally fragmented, taxonomically biased not across Europe. EuropaBON has addressed this gap by developing an EU-wide framework monitoring. With deliverable, proposes terms reference Biodiversity Observation Coordination Centre (EBOCC), a permanent infrastructure that could coordinate foster generation use high quality underpin knowledge-base used policies, providing guidance trainings when necessary. Such centre represents one solutions overcome critical challenges in Having continuous capacity would allow more timely efficient interventions optimise our revert prevent environmental degradation. It also increase value-added flows, reaching high-value outputs with some existing low-value inputs.  This deliverable offers analysis landscape Europe, extracting messages about main challenges, lessons learned possible solutions. Based comprehensive needs and, most importantly, inclusive consultation process, designs EBOCC tackles challenges. The proposal specifies mission, tasks, urgent topics, stakeholders should serve focus during first stage its implementation. includes detailed analyses governance models potential costs. proposal, fosters setting up testing operational address need coordination, integration, harmonisation strengthening collection analysis, order inform policy-making at local, national, European international level.

Язык: Английский

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Managing marine resources sustainably – Ecological, societal and governance connectivity, coherence and equivalence in complex marine transboundary regions

Ocean & Coastal Management, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 245, С. 106875 - 106875

Опубликована: Окт. 12, 2023

This overview proposes a novel typology of characteristics required to ensure that marine assessment and management is connected, coherent and/or equivalent across boundaries, both within or between national international jurisdictions. defines the types connectivity, coherence nature equivalences with their relevance examples in transboundary context. It indicates way identifying impediments be addressed boundaries sustainable adequate, it also gives overcoming those barriers. The covers natural environmental, governance (policies, politics, administration legislation), economic regimes. encompasses sector (e.g. fishing, navigation, etc.) activity-, pressures-, effects- response-footprints Maritime Spatial Planning Marine Protected Area-designation. links monitoring, reporting physico-chemical ecological realms conservation boundaries. Finally, shows equivalence should reflect wider societal cultural aspects as well approaches, principles outcomes adjacent countries (States) regions. These are summarised by analysing so-called 10-tenets for successful management. Although this developed largely from European North America perspective, proposed here validating other areas worldwide.

Язык: Английский

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Effects of wind on the movement, behavior, energetics, and life history of seabirds

Marine Ecology Progress Series, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 723, С. 73 - 117

Опубликована: Авг. 30, 2023

For decades, studies have highlighted links between wind patterns and the behavior, ecology, distribution, energetics life history of seabirds. However, only relatively recently advancements in tracking technologies improvements resolution globally-available data allowed impacts on seabirds to be quantified across multiple spatiotemporal scales. Here, we review synthesize current knowledge effects We first describe global circulation relevant atmospheric processes discuss relationship seabird morphology, flight performance behavior relative wind. then develop a conceptual model linking movement strategies wind, capabilities central-place constraint. Finally, examine how influences populations via efficiency energetics, associated with climate variability severe weather. conclude by highlighting research priorities for advancing our understanding ecology behavior; these include assessing what extent use ocean waves efficient flight, sense anticipate patterns, examining has shaped evolution. Future should also focus modulates habitat accessibility, this could incorporated into theory use. Moreover, approaches that mechanistic climate, demography are needed assess population-level effects, will imperative may impacted climate-driven changes patterns.

Язык: Английский

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Evaluating the potential of bioacoustics in avian migration research by citizen science and weather radar observations

PLoS ONE, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 19(3), С. e0299463 - e0299463

Опубликована: Март 8, 2024

The study of nocturnal bird migration brings observational challenges because reduced visibility and observability birds at night. Remote sensing tools, especially radars, have long been the preferred choice scientists to migrations. A major downside these remote tools is lack species-level information. With technological advances in recent decades with improved accessibility affordability acoustic sound recordings steeply increased popularity. In Europe, there no exhaustive qualitative quantitative evaluation content such databases therefore value for science migration-related applications, as collision hazard assessments, mostly unknown. present work we compared schedules estimated from citizen data temporal occurrence species four years recordings. Furthermore, contrasted observations weather radar one spring autumn season assess yield research applications. Migration intensity correlated best low levels records including all while passerine showed stronger correlation than entire composition. Our findings identify a minor number whose call may be eligible applications derived acoustics. Especially highly vocal Song thrush Redwing relatively good correlations schedules. Most long-distance migrants many other were not captured by acoustics an seasonal average about 50% nocturnally migrating populations remained undetected. Overall, ability act proxy overall dynamics dependent on period involved.

Язык: Английский

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Spatial planning offshore wind energy farms in California for mediating fisheries and wildlife conservation impacts

Environmental Development, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 51, С. 101005 - 101005

Опубликована: Май 15, 2024

Achieving a blue economy will require reconciling the value of emerging ocean uses with their impacts on seascape and sectors historical access to marine resources areas. To meet this challenge, we developed an analytical framework for conducting spatial planning through tradeoff analysis, applied it prospective offshore wind energy development in ∼974 km2 Morro Bay, California, USA Wind Energy Area (WEA). We generated data layers estimating MW power production fisheries wildlife conservation (seabird cetacean populations) from farm development. then quantified each sector's response plans across WEA inside three leases recently acquired by industry Finally, integrated sector into mitigating tradeoffs novel solutions (maps size, location, configuration) that optimally maximize emergent (MW power) while minimizing (fisheries wildlife) sectors. found western sites had highest potential concurrent lowest impact sectors, revealing eastern lease be less efficient at balancing objectives relative central or optimal identified analysis. Within lease, analysis able generate out-sized savings only modest losses – example, avoiding just 5% preserve nearly half its still 95% total potential. Small-scale opportunities (e.g., pilot project) significant no were also identified, case placing turbines area high These would have relatively low due decreases vulnerability levels both seabird populations going east west WEA. Our results can inform site evaluation permitting processes Bay expect provide simple actionable tool supporting other activities balanced perspective values alongside existing socio-economic interests.

Язык: Английский

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A Review of the Sustainable Siting of Offshore Wind Farms

Sustainability, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(14), С. 6036 - 6036

Опубликована: Июль 15, 2024

The continued technical and economic development of offshore wind farms needs to match their sustainable siting transparently fairly. Aiming assess existing methodologies widely used in the field OWFs spatial planning, as well identify proposed enhancements for improvement such methods, this study examines 80 peer-reviewed papers over past eight years. analysis encompasses articles from 34 scientific journals, with a notable concentration journals Renewable Energy, Sustainable Energy Reviews, Energies, it sheds light on geographical distribution, journal classification, funding sources, various methodological approaches. Most studies were conducted Turkey, China, Greece; half surveyed utilize multi-criteria decision-making approaches, predominantly addressing bottom-fixed technologies farms, which currently dominate field. are categorized into five domains: Marine Spatial Planning, Feasibility Analysis, Probabilistic Methods, Meteorological Data, Multi-Criteria Decision Making. One hundred seventy criteria identified condensed final set 41 critical criteria. This article provided an overview site selection process most crucial findings recommendations.

Язык: Английский

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Cumulative barriers to renewable energy development: Can we adjust our perspective and approach to benefit biodiversity?

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 6(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Abstract Renewable energy development is rapidly increasing in efforts to mitigate climate change. Whilst the impact of individual projects on biological diversity may be limited, there a risk significant cumulative impacts across projects, resulting conflict between our needs for renewable and preserve biodiversity. A range approaches have been developed assessment (CIA). Biologically realistic advocated peer‐reviewed literature challenging data requirements are more complex than those widely used by practitioners regulators inform assessments. Projected approaching levels where future industry at risk, with concerns that this driven an overly precautionary approach, direct consequence insufficient data. ‘race submission’, whereby developers aim submit their assessments as early possible attempt avoid being project triggers unacceptable impact, exacerbates problem. This leads situations consented not reflect optimal balance minimising biodiversity delivery targets. Solution . There urgent need shift focus CIA from anthropogenic activities, which drive assessments, populations concerned. will require international agreement minimum standards robust coordination collection. failure achieve mean delivering required minimise change ecologically sustainable manner becomes regulatory impossibility.

Язык: Английский

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