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Report reveals impact of subsea power on marine life

By: Chloe Emanuel 14/07/2023 The Crown Estate

Cables General Windfarms

The Crown Estate and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) have today published a report which aims to help stakeholders involved in offshore wind developments better assess the impacts of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) from subsea power cables on the marine environment.

The report is first of four pioneering research projects to gather data and evidence that will help maximise energy and biodiversity benefits from the seabed, whilst supporting other seabed users.

The report, delivered in collaboration with the Scottish Government, represents the first of four Cefas-led collaborative projects being supported through £1.4m funding from The Crown Estate via the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (OWEC) – a programme led by The Crown Estate in partnership with DESNZ and Defra that is generating new data and evidence to support and accelerate the sustainable development of offshore wind in the UK.

The report will lead to an improved understanding of the potential effects of EMFs – produced by power transmitted through subsea cables - on marine species, providing further evidence to facilitate and accelerate decisions in the planning and consenting of offshore wind developments.

It is the result of a two-day workshop, organised by Cefas and the Scottish Government, which brought together 15 leading scientific minds on EMFs from across a variety of fields, including electrical engineers, oceanographers, (geo)physicists and biologists to share knowledge and set out priority actions to improve future processes.

The Crown Estate has committed a total investment of up to £50 million to the OWEC programme and brings together a coalition of 27 government organisations, industry bodies, and environmental NGOs to support a range of projects that will create a data and evidence base that can be used to shape the future of offshore wind and the marine environment.

The programme is an example of The Crown Estate’s commitment to collaborate with and support the fishing industry and communities through research and engagement, enabling better coexistence between fish, fisheries, and the growing offshore wind sector across the UK.

Olivia Thomas, Head of Marine Planning at The Crown Estate said: "The UK’s offshore wind champion, Tim Pick, highlighted that a lack of reliable data is a major contributor to delays in the consenting process, which is why the work of the £50million Offshore Wind Evidence and Change (OWEC) programme is so important."

Thomas continued: "Through OWEC, we are delighted to have invested £1.4 million to make this pioneering research possible. It contributes to a growing body of evidence to support the co-existence of vital industries such as fishing and offshore wind, to help the UK meet its net zero targets, and to encourage a thriving marine environment. It is another step forward in building a sustainable offshore wind industry in the UK which is based on the very best data and evidence, for the benefit of all."

Grant Stentiford, Chief Scientist at Cefas, said: "We are delighted that The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme has awarded these projects to consortia led by Cefas. Offshore wind has a vital role in the UK’s transition towards clean energy and delivering on its net zero commitments, however there is still a lot we don’t know in terms of the impacts of offshore wind infrastructure on the marine environment, which can often delay progress."

Stentiford continued: "The results of these projects will make a significant contribution to furthering the scientific evidence base on key topics relating to biodiversity change and environmental impacts, which in turn will strengthen and improve decision making. Through this funding, Cefas will continue to work with the UK and Scottish Governments to ensure that offshore wind developments are delivered sustainability and in harmony with people and the marine environment."

In total, four Cefas-led projects have been funded by OWEC, in a bid to build understanding of the interaction between offshore wind infrastructure and marine species. In addition to the EMF workshop, three further projects are currently underway.

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Report reveals impact of subsea power on marine life

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