ScotWind project have completed a two-year digital aerial survey, shedding light on the habits of over 75,000 birds in the North Sea region. This ambitious endeavor, carried out by HiDef Aerial Surveying, involved four aircraft flying simultaneously once a month, amassing an impressive 690 hours of flight time to capture high-definition images over an expansive 11,550 square kilometer area.
The impressive cooperation witnessed among ScotWind developers, including Fred, Olsen Seawind, Vattenfall, Scottish Power Renewables, Shell, SSE Renewables, CIP, Marubeni, Bluefloat, Renantis, BP, and EnBW, underscores their commitment to preserving and enhancing the natural environment. By fast-tracking this survey, they ensured data collection spanned two full seabird breeding seasons, providing invaluable insights into bird species and activity in the region.
Fraser Malcolm, Ossian Offshore Consents Manager, expressed the significance of this collaborative effort, emphasizing its role in bolstering the understanding of the area among regulatory bodies. He stated, “Collaboration in this area has led to further co-operation among developers which represents a win-win for everyone. We are all proud to have played our part. By working together, we hope to accelerate successful project delivery to help Scotland meet their net-zero targets.”
The Sectoral Marine Plan (SMP), outlined by the Scottish Government ahead of the leasing round, mandated developers to conduct regional surveys in Plan Option Areas E1 and E2 as a mitigation measure for ornithology risk. Michelle Quinn, Director of the Offshore Wind Directorate, commended the study's outputs for enhancing their understanding of bird activity off the east coast of Scotland. She reiterated the government's commitment to supporting sustainable development that considers potential environmental, social, and economic impacts as offshore wind energy plays a pivotal role in the transition to low-carbon energy sources.
