ABPmer, a marine consultancy and survey company, is supporting the planned MarramWind floating offshore wind farm off the Aberdeenshire coast of Scotland with key elements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). MarramWind is a joint venture between ScottishPower and Shell and is expected to be among the world's first large-scale commercial floating offshore wind farms, with approximately 200 floating turbines.
As part of the consenting process, marine ecologists in ABPmer's Environment team are conducting a benthic characterisation study based on analysis of geophysical data acquired by the project. Furthermore, marine physical processes specialists at ABPmer will be completing the geology, oceanography, and physical process element of the EIA. The assessment will consider the likely significant effects on marine physical process receptors that may arise from the construction, operation, and decommissioning of the project.
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Heidi Roberts, ABPmer Project Director, expressed her delight in supporting the project, stating, “We are delighted to support this important project, which could make a key contribution to Scotland's renewable energy generation, in support of the Scottish government's target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.”
ABPmer brings a wealth of experience to the project, having completed EIA-related studies for over 30 UK offshore wind projects, including Scotland's Beatrice, Moray East, and Moray West Wind Farms, as well as post-consent coastal processes and metocean support.
The project was announced following success in the recent ScotWind auction process run by Crown Estate Scotland, the first leasing round in Scottish waters for a decade. ABPmer's SEASTATES validated hindcast metocean models will enhance baseline understanding of the site and provide a robust basis for the assessment of potential impacts to benthic habitats.
The MarramWind floating offshore wind farm project will be a significant contributor to Scotland's renewable energy generation and will play a vital role in achieving the Scottish government's net-zero carbon emissions target by 2045. ABPmer's expertise and experience in conducting EIA-related studies for UK offshore wind projects make it a valuable partner for the project.
