Ocergy’s Post

🌊 Did you know Belgium uses more of its seaspace for #wind farms than any other country in the world? And it's planning to double this by 2030! But the noise from these offshore wind farms can hinder marine mammals, like the harbour #porpoises in our North #Sea. 🔈🐬 This dolphin-like mammal relies on sound to navigate, communicate, and hunt. While wind farms create noisy environments, they also attract more fish, posing a tough choice for the porpoises. 🎣 Marine researcher Bob Rumes (Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) uses underwater microphones to #research underwater noise and study the behavior of harbour porpoises in different wind farms. His results will lead to recommendations for #engineers and #policymakers on how to build future offshore wind farms. This way, we can find a balance between renewable #energy and protecting marine #biodiversity.

🌊🐬 Offshore Wind and Marine Life: Striking the Right Balance As we strive towards a sustainable future with offshore wind farms, it's crucial to understand their impact on marine ecosystems. Our latest article delves into the challenges marine mammals, like harbour porpoises and seals, face due to offshore wind construction. Key highlights: • Explore the latest research on noise disturbance from pile-driving • Learn about innovative mitigation measures like bubble curtains • Discover new technologies for monitoring marine mammal behaviour • Understand the emerging concerns about seismic surveys This comprehensive piece offers valuable insights for: ✅ Marine ecologists and biologists ✅ Policymakers in environmental protection ✅ Offshore wind industry professionals ✅ Anyone interested in sustainable energy and marine conservation Please read the full article to understand how we're working to balance renewable energy goals with marine life protection. Let's discuss how we can further innovate to minimise our impact on marine ecosystems. #OffshoreWind #MarineConservation #SustainableEnergy #Innovation

Influence of wind on kittiwake Rissa tridactyla flight and offshore wind turbine collision risk #SCT #GBR: Abstract — Offshore windfarms are a potential threat to seabirds, partly due to collision risk with turbine blades. Wind influences the mode, height and speed of seabird flight, and therefore the risk of collision with turbines. We investigated how wind influences the flight of black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, a gull of conservation concern, in order to incorporate these findings into collision risk estimates and identify mitigation measures. We used GPS telemetry data (23rd June to 10th August 2021) from 20 . . .

The world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, OW Ocean Winds, WindFloat Atlantic, is setting new production records and also demonstrating how offshore wind can coexist with nature. Since its commissioning, the ongoing surveys have shown minimal impact on biodiversity, with over 270 species thriving around the turbines. Ongoing surveys have revealed that the floating structures even foster marine life, creating an underwater reef effect while delivering clean energy and reducing CO2 emissions. #OffshoreWind #Sustainability #Biodiversity #FloatingWind #CleanEnergy https://lnkd.in/eGcf_h7Y

Influence of wind on kittiwake Rissa tridactyla flight and offshore wind turbine collision risk #SCT #GBR: Abstract — Offshore windfarms are a potential threat to seabirds, partly due to collision risk with turbine blades. Wind influences the mode, height and speed of seabird flight, and therefore the risk of collision with turbines. We investigated how wind influences the flight of black-legged kittiwakes Rissa tridactyla, a gull of conservation concern, in order to incorporate these findings into collision risk estimates and identify mitigation measures. We used GPS telemetry data (23rd June to 10th August 2021) from 20 . . .

📰 Bionieuws on impact offshore wind turbines on birds 🗞   In a recent interview with Koen Moons in Bionieuws, Ecowende colleagues Hermione van Zutphen and Eldina S.alkanovic share their thoughts on the effects of offshore wind turbines on birds. While progress has been made in better understanding its ecological impact, there is still relatively little known about how offshore wind turbines effect bird populations.   Hermione and Eldina emphasize the need for robust scientific research to better understand these effects. Ecowende will perform this research during the construction and operation phase of the Hollandse Kust West (HKW) wind farm. Pioneering with eco-innovations and gathering more data will help ensure that both the energy transition and the protection of wildlife can go hand in hand.   As Hermione points out, “In the HKW tender, the Dutch government has placed a strong focus on ecological measures. For birds, we have designed a bird corridor and increased the rotor height of some of the turbines. So, both horizontally and vertically, we are making space for seabirds.” Eldina adds: “We are also going to implement a combination of radar, cameras, and Artificial Intelligence. Together with DHI, Robin Radar Systems and Wedge Global (MIDO) we are implementing bird monitoring and recognition systems prior, during and after construction. We use radar to detect birds and camera to follow the trajectory of the birds. AI helps to identify the species of bird. This gives us more knowledge about whether and how we can prevent collisions for certain species.”   Below the full interview (in Dutch) in Bionieuws to learn more about this topic. For more information about our eco-innovations for birds, visit the website 💻 https://lnkd.in/dGVtc8bM   #TeamingUpWithNature #OffshoreWind #Birds #Research #EnergyTransition #Bionieuws #Ecowende

📰 The consequences of floating offshore wind farms (FLOW) on life throughout the marine food chain will be explored in a new study led by #LyellCentre researchers at Heriot-Watt University. The 4-year FRONTLINE project - supported by NERC: Natural Environment Research Council - will employ state-of-the-art technologies and seabird and fisheries tracking on the Celtic Sea to find out how the rapid expansion of wind farm infrastructures - vital for achieving global #NetZero targets - could affect the ocean's natural ecosystem. 🌊 🪽 The team will harness seabirds' 'animal oceanography' abilities to provide a birds'-eye view on changing seas and turbine perception to help understand whether wind farm structures create collision hazards, which could, in turn, affect their foraging habits. Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eYKmbzdx The Marine Biological Association | University of Plymouth | Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) | University of Oxford | University of Liverpool | HiDef Aerial Surveying Limited | UK Research and Innovation | The Crown Estate #Sustainability #SustainableHWU #MarineEnvironments #UKNetZero #SeabirdEcology #science #research #technology #innovation #OffshoreWind #WindFarms #RenewableEnergy #GlobalResearch #GlobalImpact

What is the risk for migratory birds to collide with wind turbines? Scientists from the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), including lead researcher Bart Hoekstra, investigated this. With their unique bird migration maps, the researchers shed new light on the massive bird migration that takes place at night. 🐦 Using weather radars from the KNMI and a bird radar in ARTIS, the researchers mapped the largest movements of birds through the Netherlands: the mass migration in spring and autumn. They analysed bird migration in North Holland over a period of 6 years.   🌔Their unique bird migration maps show the average distribution of migratory birds during mass bird migration. The night migration in autumn is the most massive, with an average of 43 birds per square kilometer in North Holland. Moreover, the numbers of birds between areas differ the most at that time.  🍃 Hoekstra explains: ‘You can take this into account when looking for suitable locations for wind turbines. The bird migration maps can also help with precautionary measures after installation of wind turbines, for example to shut them down during intense night-time bird migration.'    #windturbines #birdmigration  

Towards the accurate assessment of the underwater noise impact of floating wind farms   How to represent the invisible marine pollution that is underwater noise, a major threat to marine species? Underwater noise mapping is the solution that Quiet-Oceans have developed and brought to the highest standard in the World by connecting SHOM’s HYCOM3D coastal oceanographic model with Quiet-Oceans’ Quonops noise mapping platform. To offer the highest quality of underwater noise modelling in coastal areas, Quiet-Oceans and SHOM are joining forces in the Coastal Ocean Noise Service project with the support of Copernicus Marine Service. This project is based on the integration of the HYCOM3D oceanographic model output provided by SHOM into the noise modelling platform Quonops© operated by Quiet-Oceans. The Mediterranean HYCOM3D regional configuration describe physical processes that take place in coastal zones (e.g. as tidal fronts, fluvial plume, tides and internal waves, upwellings and mixed layer dynamics, etc.), notably by considering the tide and river inputs. This configuration allows to model with high resolution the currents, temperature and salinity distributions. This configuration provides hourly temporal frequency and a high spatial resolution up to 1.8 km.   Coastal marine habitats will therefore be better protected from underwater noise pollution   This Use Case is funded by the Copernicus Marine Service User Engagement Programme 2022-2028. For more info: https://lnkd.in/eC-wsN7U

Throwback Thursday: Advancements in Wind Energy and Wildlife Protection In the early 2000s, U.S. wind turbines were known to cause significant bird and bat fatalities each year. However, advancements in turbine design, strategic placement, and operational adjustments like increased cut-in speeds have led to notable reductions in wildlife impacts. Ongoing strategies and continued research into new technologies aim to further protect wildlife near wind farms. Here are five key methods that have been implemented to safeguard birds and bats near wind farms: ✔️ Strategic Siting: Conducting thorough environmental assessments to position turbines away from critical habitats and migratory paths, thereby reducing collision risks. ✔️ Blade Painting: Applying black paint to one of the turbine blades to enhance visibility, helping birds detect and avoid moving blades. ✔️ Ultrasonic Deterrents: Installing devices that emit high-frequency sounds to deter bats from approaching turbines, effectively reducing bat fatalities. ✔️ Smart Curtailment: Implementing systems that temporarily halt turbine operations during peak migration periods or when specific species are detected nearby, minimizing harm to wildlife. ✔️ Radar and Thermal Imaging: Utilizing advanced monitoring technologies to detect approaching birds and bats, enabling real-time responses to prevent collisions. Wind Decom is proud to be part of an industry dedicated to advancing technologies that protect wildlife and minimize environmental impact. Let’s connect to discuss how we can work together in this shared mission! #WindEnergy #Innovation #WindDecom #Conservation #BirdSafety