ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

The avifauna and marine mammals of the Thornton Bank

The Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) is a scientific institute of the Flemish Government in Belgium. INBO has resulted from the merger of the Institute for Forestry and Game Management and the Institute of Nature Conservation on January, 1st 2006.

The INBO carries out research that is essential to governmental policy and provides scientific support for conservation, development, management and sustainable use of biodiversity and its environment.

Wind farms can have an impact on seabirds and marine mammals. To assess this environmental impact C-Power has obtained assistance from the Instituut voor Natuurbehoud (Institute of Nature Conservation) to obtain the most detailed possible information on the occurrence of these animal species on the Thornton Bank and to assess the possible impact of a wind farm on them.

Two individual facets can be clearly distinguished in terms of methodology and data availability. In order to carry out a reliable evaluation of the impact of the wind farm on the marine avifauna and marine mammals, there is a need for knowledge on the populations that are present on the site and in the case of the birds there is also the phenomenon of migration, which can be very important in assessing potential negative impacts. During the various phases of installation (before and during construction) and operation of the wind farm, attempts will be made to estimate the potential impact on both groups of animals as effectively as possible.

The perceived impact of far-shore wind farms on the landscape

WES is an ISO 9001 certified multidisciplinary research and consultancy bureau, located in Bruges, Belgium and active in five specific fields:
environment; spatial planning; socio-economic policy; tourism; training.

The wind turbines in this far shore wind farm will just be visible as small dots on the horizon in conditions of very clear visibility. How the impact of this on the landscape will be perceived is being studied by WES-Onderzoek & Advies, who were also involved in earlier research in connection with the perceived impact on the landscape of near shore wind farms.

The study was carried out as a qualitative survey of a smaller group of respondents, who were not selected randomly (focus group discussion). For the purpose of this study it was decided to include two typical categories of "users" of the marine landscape in the survey, to match the target groups that were selected in earlier studies. First of all a group of day tourists, second-home occupants and other recreational sea users were selected. Secondly a group was put together consisting of residents and hotel and café operators / dealers from the coastal municipalities.

The survey was carried out separately for the two groups. Using a structured questionnaire with photographic simulations, an attempt was made to find a qualitative answer to the question of how these target groups would perceive a wind farm far out at sea. An attempt was made to link to the questions used in earlier surveys for projects situated closer to the coast. In other words, an attempt is being made, on a qualitative basis, to extend knowledge of the perception of wind farms to include the "far-shore wind farm" aspect.

The analysis of macro- and epibenthos and extrapolated fish stocks in and around the planned offshore wind farm on the Thornton Bank

As of 1 April 2006, the Agricultural Research Centre (CLO) has been reconstituted to the Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO). ILVO belongs as a Flemish Scientific Institute to the Policy Domain 'Agriculture and Fisheries' of the Flemish Government.
ILVO’s mission consists of performing and coordinating policy-supporting scientific research and the associated public service in view of a sustainable agriculture and fishery in an economic, ecological and social perspective.

Off shore wind farms have an impact on sea fishing. Certain areas may be closed to commercial fishing, as a result of which the total area that can be fished is reduced, but new habitats may also be created as a result. The basis for this study is a thorough inventarisation of the importance of the Thornton Bank for sea fishing.

The main purpose of this study will was to quantify the intensity and importance of fishing activities on and in the area surrounding the Thornton Bank. The study seeks to provide answers to questions concerning the current importance of the area to professional and recreational fishing and what the consequences might be if these activities were to be lost in the area where it is planned to site the wind farm.
Here the effects of possible measures to alleviate the impact and other alternative activities will be taken into account.

Risk analysis – Off shore wind energy park – Thornton Bank

Germanischer Lloyd is one of the world's leaders in certification, quality control and assessment of safety aspects, particularly with regard to ships and marine constructions. This German company is active in 135 countries and has approximately 1,800 personnel.
"Germanischer Lloyd Offshore" is considered to be the most reputable European expert when it comes to maritime risk analyses. In the context of the risk assessments for various European Offshore wind farms, Germanischer Lloyd has issued guidelines for their assessment on an objective and scientifically sound basis ("Richtlinie zur Erstellung von technischen Risikoanalysen für Offshore-Windparks").

The impact of the wind farm on Thornton Bank on the on the radar chain off the Belgian Coast

The river Scheldt and the coastal waters are continually monitored by a chain of radars (Scheldt radar chain). Ships also use various positioning systems and communication techniques (both with each other and with the coast).
The so-called "Radar Study" investigates whether the installation of wind turbines will interfere with these telemetric systems. More specifically it is ascertained whether shadow or echo effects will arise such as diffraction or other disturbing phenomena that might pose a risk to shipping.
The study will also be oriented towards the development of an "early warning system" in which changes of course that might lead to a possible collision with the wind turbine park if uncorrected can be detected at a distance of 40km so that they can be contacted and adjustments made if necessary.

Oil dispersal study at C-Power wind farm on the Thornton bank

In the previous study being “the effect of the wind farm on shipping safety”, a calculation was made as to the likelihood of there being a collision between a wind turbine and a ship. The WL Delft study discusses the consequences of such an occurrence in a worst case scenario, i.e. how long would a major oil spill take to reach the coast in stormy weather.

In the study by Germanischer Lloyd, the likelihood of a collision between a ship and a turbine was calculated as a once-in-200-years accident, resulting in an average-sized oil spill of 50 tons. This study also examines what would happen with an oil spill of 1000 tons in three different scenarios:

• if there is a storm with the wind blowing directly towards the coast,
• if the wind dies down with the effect that the oil slick dispersion is limited,
• if there is a moderate wind strength in the most dominant direction

This study comes up with a realistic estimate of the concentration and dispersal of the oil slick in time and space.