Navigating the Environmental Impact Assessments of Offshore Wind Farms

Offshore wind is the world’s second largest source of renewable energy. Yet as green as offshore wind may seem, it’s not without its own environmental footprint. Seabed habitat disturbances, bird strikes, and the visual disruption of coast landscapes are just some issues we’re only beginning to understand.

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIAs) is a tool that can help bridge the knowledge gap and mitigate harm. Its first inception was created following the instatement of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the United States. Today, the EIA has been adapted by over 100 nations for assessing the environmental impact of proposed projects before planning permissions are given.

While the specific requirements can vary depending on national or regional legislation, the general framework remains the same–even across sectors. In offshore wind, the EIA might unfold this way.

Securing an EIA for Offshore Wind Farms

Screening

In the UK, developments are classified into two categories: Schedule 1 and Schedule 2. Under Schedule 1 are large scale projects that must conduct an EIA as part of the permitting process.

Schedule 2 are smaller projects that are subject to screening. Thresholds are set out for every type of development. In the case of offshore wind, any farm with more than two turbines or structures above 15 metres tall needs to be checked for significant environmental impact. Most offshore wind farms, whose turbines reach up to 90 metres tall, automatically trigger the need for an EIA.

Scoping

The scoping step of an EIA is where the bones of the process take shape. Scoping ensures that the assessment adequately covers relevant environmental issues such as impacts on habitats, biodiversity, fisheries, navigation and shipping routes, and coastal communities.

This is also the stage where stakeholders are brought into the discussion for input and consultations. Facilitating community engagement is another important function of an EIA. By bringing community concerns to the table, developers can build trust and garner support–critical when public pushback is a real threat that can get projects axed.

While developers aren’t required to consult with local planning authorities–what’s called a “scoping opinion”–doing so can help ensure that the assessment is compliant with the requisite regulations and adequately covers all the key environmental concerns of a particular project. Local authorities who receive a request for a scoping opinion are given five weeks to provide it.

The resulting scoping reports are comprehensive documents hundreds of pages long. Every aspect of a proposed offshore wind farm is put under consideration, from effects on marine life to the traffic caused by construction of onshore cables and transporting large components to ports.

Preparing an Environmental Statement

The Environmental Statement (ES) is a compilation and synthesis of data from the assessment. The resulting document is presented to communicate the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project alongside mitigation measures or alternate technologies and project designs.

Throughout the process of putting together an ES, developers are typically in ongoing consultation with environmental groups, local communities, government agencies, and experts. The ES must include credentials that prove and support that the experts are qualified to give statements.

Making a Planning Application & Consultation

The next step involves applicants submitting a planning application for the proposed project to the relevant regulatory bodies. For offshore wind developers in the UK, planning applications are submitted to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the Crown Estate, and the relevant devolved authorities based on where the proposed project is to be built.

Another crucial part of this step is making the application available to the public for perusal. According to Schedule 3 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015, copies must be made available in localities and online. Copies must also be sent to parties who are likely to be affected, yet might not be aware that they will be impacted by the development.

Decision Making

Finally, the decision making process. The EIA is only one of the tools authorities use to evaluate whether to approve or reject a proposal, but it has proved significant.

EIAs lead to major project modifications. They also serve not only to evaluate the immediate environmental effects of projects, but also to pinpoint areas where policy improvements are essential for securing better environmental outcomes.

Take, for example, the ongoing development of decommissioning procedures for offshore wind farms. Conducting EIAs during the early stages of project planning can illuminate potential shortcomings and highlight areas where government intervention or support is necessary to ensure effective and environmentally sound decommissioning processes.

As offshore wind continues to grow as a key renewable energy source, the importance of EIAs cannot be overstated. By evaluating potential environmental impacts, identifying areas for policy improvement, and facilitating public engagement, EIAs help mitigate harm and maximise advantages for both the environment and local communities.