SSE reaches new heights to protect seabird populations
About 30 kilometres off the Scottish coast, we are working on plans to develop one of the largest offshore wind farms in the world, Berwick Bank. With a potential capacity of 4.1 gigawatts, the project could increase Scotland's renewable energy production by almost 30% in one fell swoop. However, generating sustainable energy is about more than just achieving net-zero goals. To be truly sustainable, we must also be conscious of our natural environment and its endangered species.
Along the coast near the planned wind farm, birds breed and fly tens of kilometres out to sea for food. Recent national bird counts show that almost half of the seabird species in the UK have declined over the past 20 years, mainly due to climate change. Therefore, it is crucial that we ensure this project has minimal impact on the seabirds' habitat. In developing Berwick Bank, we are using new methods that have proven successful in providing seabird populations with a safer passage and habitat.
Research around our existing Beatrice wind farm shows that increasing the distance between the sea and the blades can reduce potential collisions. Therefore, for Berwick Bank, we have decided to raise the height of the wind turbine blades from 22 meters to 37 meters, which will significantly reduce the predicted chance of collisions. Additionally, the total surface area of the project has been reduced by about 20%, following an earlier reduction of 10%, to minimise the footprint of the project on important feeding habitats for seabirds.
A model for the future
Together with the Scottish and British governments, our seabird experts, and other stakeholders, we are working on a series of measures for the development of Berwick Bank to improve conditions for seabird populations in the area. We are planning to adopt advanced technology to map out the effects of the project and the measures we are taking to protect seabird populations. We hope that Berwick Bank can become a model of sustainable development for future offshore wind farms.
With this project, we aim to make a direct contribution to achieving net-zero goals and reducing the effects of climate change, which is invaluable for the restoration of biodiversity.
Learn more about SSE Renewables - about our work, recent projects and news by visiting the SSE Renewables (UK) website now