Floating wind technology developer Principle Power has joined the World Ocean Council (WOC), the global, multi-industry alliance on “corporate ocean responsibility.” Principle Power CEO, Joao Metelo, said: “Principle Power believes that WOC provides a unique, international multi-sectoral ocean indus
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has issued guidance on when new marine Natura 2000 sites should be taken into account in offshore renewable energy consents and licences. The Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive require that sites for certain species and habitat types are
Seals avoid offshore wind farms during periods when the turbines are installed using pile driving, but return to the area within a matter of hours after pile driving has finished, according to new research by scientists at the University of St Andrews. The findings have important implications for th
According to a new research by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the UK’s 2050 climate targets can be achieved using high levels of renewable energy, with low risk for wildlife and protected areas. ‘The RSPB’s 2050 Energy Vision’ shows for the first time how renewable technologie
A public consultation is underway on Marine Institute’s application for a foreshore lease to upgrade the Galway Bay marine and renewable energy test site which would allow floating wind farm technology to be tested offshore Ireland. The Marine Institute has applied to the Department of the Environme
The Administrative Court of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen has decided to suspend the construction of the Offshore Terminal Bremerhaven (OTB), due to legal action taken against the project by the environmental organization BUND. Thereby, no construction works can be carried out at the OTB until f
Fortum, Statkraft and Vattenfall have proposed improvements of the EU carbon market to better reflect the high ambitions of the Paris Agreement. In their joint position signed by the CEOs of the companies, they call for three immediate actions to be incorporated in the ongoing revision of the EU ETS
Offshore wind turbines in shelf seas can cumulatively change the local flow of water and alter the heights of tides far beyond the immediate areas around offshore wind farms, according to a new study by Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML). Overall, the environmental impact of renewable energy is expect
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has hailed progress by American agencies in working with their Scandinavian counterparts to expedite the development of offshore wind in this country. The leaders of the United States, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden released a joint statemen
Vattenfall has contracted aerial survey specialists APEM to provide ultra-high resolution bird and marine mammal surveys for its Norfolk Vanguard West site. Norfolk Vanguard comprises two sites, East and West. Once constructed, it will provide a generating capacity of up to 1,800MW. APEM has been su
Blyth Offshore Demonstrator Ltd (BODL) will be deploying 11 hydrophones in order to monitor the presence and activity of small cetaceans in and around the proposed 99.9MW Blyth Offshore Wind Demonstration project, Kis-Orca reports. The hydrophones are passive devices consisting of a buoyant plastic
DONG Energy has selected HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited to undertake ultra-high resolution digital video aerial surveys for birds and marine megafauna across the Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm. The Hornsea Zone is located adjacent to the River Humber, approximately 200 kilometres south of
DONG Energy has launched a GBP 15 million Walney Extension Community Benefit Fund to support community and environmental projects in coastal areas of Lancashire and Cumbria. The fund is part of the community engagement programme for DONG Energy’s Walney Extension offshore wind farm, being built 9 ki
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has launched a new version of the Global Atlas for Renewable Energy, the online renewable energy mapping platform, which now allows users to download resource data for offline analysis, and to print and export map images. The enhancements include an
