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Biodiversity impacts associated to offshore wind power projects

The available scientific literature agrees on the key impacts of offshore wind: i) risk of collision mortality; ii) displacement due to disturbance (including noise impacts); iii) barrier effects (also including noise impacts); iv habitat loss; and v) indirect ecosystem-level effects. There is still much to understand on these five key impacts – but it is clear that that they must be considered carefully in all stages of offshore wind farm planning and development. The broad approach to undertaking an impact assessment for onshore wind energy is often equally relevant to offshore wind projects.

Authors: L. Bennun, J. van Bochove, C. Ng, C. Fletcher, D. Wilson, N. Phair, G. Carbone.

 

Date: 2021