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Review of priority evidence needs around the impact of offshore wind development on key receptors and research underway 2021

Abstract

The Crown Estate and UK Government (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, BEIS) have formed a partnership, the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme, which aims to ensure the UK offshore wind sector can deliver at pace while protecting the natural environment. The Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme’s work includes funding a programme of strategic evidence projects to address gaps in knowledge of the cumulative environmental impacts and benefits of offshore wind deployment. To assist with prioritising and evaluating research proposals, The Crown Estate commissioned JNCC to identify receptors and topics that pose greatest risk in terms of future offshore wind farm consents and deployment, and to list research already underway.

For benthic, marine mammal and ornithology receptors, lists of priority evidence needs for the UK have been collated previously by various groups, such as the Scottish Marine Energy Research (ScotMER) programme, the Offshore Wind Strategic Monitoring and Research Forum (OWSMRF), Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP), the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies Marine Industry Groups (SNCB MIG) and others. For each receptor group, these existing lists were reviewed and collated to form a single list of high priority evidence needs, except for ornithology for which no UK-wide overarching list exists.

In addition, lists of relevant research currently underway were compiled for benthic and marine mammal receptors. For research relevant to ornithology receptors, key stakeholders were emailed, asking for details of their current research, and this information was collated. Spreadsheets listing priority evidence needs and current research for each receptor accompany this report. From this review, JNCC gives its opinion on highest priority evidence needs and makes key recommendations for future work to develop shared understanding on evidence needs.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2021·06·01

Citation
O’Brien, S.H., Baker, H., Canning, S., Hall, K., Hitchin, B. & Mendes, S. 2021. Review of priority evidence needs around the impact of offshore wind development on key receptors and research underway. A report for the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme Steering Group. No. OW001. JNCC Report No. 675, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
A report for the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme Steering Group, No. OW001.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2021·06·09

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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