The Offshore Wind Strategic Monitoring and Research Forum (OWSMRF) has completed three years, identifying priority research areas on marine birds in the UK.
OWSMRF is a collaborative partnership led by a group of seven developers, EDF Renewables UK, Equinor, Ørsted, RWE, ScottishPower Renewables, SSE Renewables and Shell. JNCC acts as the secretariat and plays a role in the delivery of scientific outputs.
OWSMRF has successfully completed its latest phase with the recent publication of two research products on Manx shearwaters and European storm-petrels: a summary of 20 research ideas and a detailed scope of work to gain more confidence in their population abundance and status in the UK.
Over the course of the Pilot Year (2019–2020) and the Continuation Year (2021–2023), the Forum has focused on two groups of priority bird species, namely the black-legged kittiwake, shearwaters and storm-petrels (Procellariiforms). OWSMRF produced four knowledge gap reports (KG1, KG2, KG3, KG4 ), and a list of 38 research ideas to improve understanding of the ecology and behaviour of these species, how they may interact with offshore windfarms and how any potential effects may be mitigated.
High priority research ideas have been developed into detailed project proposals and promoted to UK strategic research programmes by JNCC. The majority of kittiwake research ideas have already been taken forward for example through the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme and the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme, while more recently developed research proposals on shearwaters and storm-petrels are currently being considered for funding.
OWSMRF was launched in 2019 to support the UK’s ambition to combat climate change by achieving Net Zero by 2050 and leading on offshore wind development. In recent years, the UK Government’s targets for offshore wind capacity have increased from 40 to 50 gigawatts of electricity to be generated by 2030.
While the rapid expansion of offshore wind farms in UK waters will contribute to mitigate the impacts of climate change, a main driver of biodiversity loss, there are still important knowledge gaps about the potential environmental effects of large-scale offshore wind developments, particularly on marine birds. Uncertainty in impact assessments can impede consenting decisions, jeopardising the UK’s climate change ambitions. OWSMRF has worked with the UK’s Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies, experts, academics and others involved in the offshore wind sector, to identify, prioritise and promote robust research that will reduce this uncertainty when assessing ornithology impacts.
Lise Ruffino, Senior Marine Ornithologist at JNCC said:
"One main challenge is the timescales for obtaining new scientific evidence. OWSMRF has identified research that could benefit industry immediately, but also in the longer term, for example in areas that may pose a risk to some bird species in the future. It is therefore increasingly important that the most promising research is funded quickly to remove any key barriers to the sustainable development of large-scale offshore windfarms.
"With the dual challenge of achieving Net Zero and responding to the biodiversity crisis, it has never been so critical to work collectively and deliver common goals. Key to unlocking scientific uncertainty and tackling outstanding issues is collaboration, information exchange, data sharing, and prioritisation of evidence needs both now and in the near future. While OWSMRF is taking a pause, we will be reflecting on the past years and continue to engage with stakeholders to define future priorities and ways to work together.”
Polly Tarrant, Environment Manager at EDF Renewables UK, on behalf of the Developers, said:
"To meet the UK Governments ambitious climate and Net Zero targets, the UK will need to rapidly increase its offshore wind capacity. As more capacity is developed, including in new parts of the UK, it will be important to better understand the effects on the environment. This is why this group of offshore wind developers has been working together with JNCC and wider stakeholders to identify the key research which could benefit the sustainable development of offshore wind in the UK. In the backdrop of Net Zero ambitions, coupled with the biodiversity crisis, it is important that we continue to work together as a community to jointly identify and tackle these critical challenges”.
OWSMRF would like to thank the wide range of stakeholders who contributed significantly to the success of the Forum over the past years, especially the British Trust for Ornithology, the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, Marine Scotland Science, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, NatureScot, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, as well as researchers and ornithology experts from various organisations in the UK and Europe.
For more information on the Offshore Wind Strategic Monitoring and Research Forum, visit the OWSMRF webpage.
Published: