Offshore Wind Power Projects in the Great Lakes - Ministry of ...

Offshore wind power projects in the Great Lakes: Background and science considerations for fish and fish habitat
research efforts. Specifically, the Crown Estate has established a trust fund based on the accrued
interest of refundable financial deposits made by developers to support various research
programmes related to offshore wind. These funds are administered to environmental consultant
and university research groups by COWRIE (Collaborative Offshore Wind Research Into The
Environment), a registered charity set up to advance and improve knowledge of the potential
environmental impacts of offshore wind development in UK waters. COWRIE has identified
several key priority areas for research, included among them studies on the potential impacts of
EMFs on fish, and the effects of noise and vibration on marine organisms. In addition to
providing open access to the resulting research reports, COWRIE also hosts workshops to
promote the sharing of knowledge, and supports public education efforts, among other things.
The UK has also implemented a phased-in approach to offshore wind power development as part
of a strategic framework for the offshore wind industry. In Round 1, developments were limited
in size and number, with the intent being to gain technical and environmental experience.
Drawing from the lessons learned in the first round, the Department of Trade and Industry
identified and initiated Strategic Environmental Assessments at three areas where the potential
for offshore wind was most promising. For Round 2, developers were able to tender for any site
within the boundaries of the Strategic Areas outside of restricted areas. This approach was
developed to minimize environmental risk, to enhance and build upon knowledge gained at each
round, and to facilitate offshore wind development by expediting the leasing and planning
consents process.
Finally, apart from ongoing government-funded research studies, individual developers are
responsible to undertake detailed environmental baseline surveys to inform project-specific
environmental impact assessments, and to carry out effects monitoring studies as required by
their licensing conditions. By funding and fostering environmental research through a transparent
collaborative, and following an adaptive management approach to phased-in development, the
UK model presents a unique alternative that other jurisdictions could certainly learn from.
6.4 Importance of data transparency
If or when offshore wind power production becomes a reality within the Great Lakes and
increasing numbers of turbines are installed, there will be a need to systematically compile not
Aquatic Research and Development Section 85