Translating ecological research results into wind farm practice The Danish experience. Niels-Erik Clausen. 2 Risø DTU

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1 Translating ecological research results into wind farm practice The Danish experience Niels-Erik Clausen Conference, Den Helder Holland February 2009 Outline The Danish offshore monitoring program Key results from the program Approach and first results from Horns Rev 2 Did we learn anything? The agreement on exchange of information between Denmark, Sweden and Germany Mette Cramer Buch acknowledgement Lars Bie Jensen 2 1

2 Introduction of Niels-Erik Clausen MSc (Mech. Eng.) 1980; PhD (Mech. Eng.) years in private companies working with solar powered refrigeration, desalination of sea water, process design and EIA of diesel power plants in developing countries. From 2000: Wind energy research, consultancy and teaching. Worked with project development in several countries in the European Union, Egypt, India, Vietnam, Philippines, Cape Verde, Dominican Republic & Thailand. Teaching Planning & Development of Wind Farms at DTU s M.Sc. Wind Energy (DTU = Technical University of Denmark) 3 Wind Energy Division Blade Test Center Sparkær (Force+DNV) National Test Station Høvsøre Risø 130 employees in 5 research programmes covering from resource to grid 2

3 National Test Station for Large Wind Turbines Coastal, flat terrain 5 test positions Max. 10 MW Max. height 165 m Small wind turbines at Risø 1979 The Danish Offshore Monitoring Program PSO-funded program All data publicly available Program managed by The Environmental Group: The Danish Energy Authority, The Danish Forest and Nature Agency, Energi E2 & Elsam (now Vattenfall & DONG Energy) International Advisory Panel of Experts on Marine Ecology evaluates the outcome 6 3

4 Danish offshore wind farms in the study 80 x 2 MW 1. Vindeby 2. Tunø Knob 3. Middelgrunden 4. Horns Rev 5. Rønland 6. Nysted 7. Samsø 8. Frederikshavn 72 x 2.3 MW Horns Rev km offshore Photos: ELSAM A/S 4

5 Nysted km offshore 9 Nysted location near protected area Protected area for birds 2003 seal sanctuary 10 5

6 Monitoring program issues Hydrography & coastal morphology Bottom flora & fauna Introduction of hard substrate habitat Fish Electromagnetic fields Sand eels Birds Seals Harbour porpoises Socio- and environmental economic effects 11 Extent of program Temporal variation EIA/Baseline Construction Operation Spatial variation Impact area (wind farms) Reference areas 12 6

7 Selected results 14 7

8 15 Final results at Horns Rev is expected after some 5-6 years when the artificial reef is mature. At Nysted the attraction to fish is less pronounced due to a development of a large mono-culture of mussels 16 8

9 Impack on birds Loss or damage of habitat Collision mortality of migrating birds

10 Birds habitat loss, methods Aerial surveys are carried out spring and autumn from 250 ft or 76 m Common Scoter Horns Rev 18 surveys 9 surveys 20 10

11 Long-tailed duck Nysted 21 surveys 5 surveys Note 21 Results - Loss of habitat Both Nysted and Horns Rev were characterised by low local feeding densities es of birds, so major effects on bird distributions were never expected Temporary displacement (Common Scoter at Horns Rev and Long-tailed Duck at Nysted) Attraction to gulls e.g. Herring Gull and Little Gull especially at Horns Rev. Cormorants are resting on the superstructures at Nysted

12 Results - Loss of habitat 2 During the monitoring programme it was observed that the Common Scoter stayed away from the wind farm area after construction of the wind farm. The number of birds in the area increased significantly. It cannot be excluded that this reflects changes in the food availability rather than a change in the behaviour of the birds themselves. 23 Results - Loss of habitat 3 Long-tailed Duck showed a statistically significant reduction in numbers after the construction of Nysted wind farm. But the absolute numbers are small and of no significance to the population of the species

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15 Marine mammals -harbour porpoises a. Before construction b. During.. c. After 29 Foto: Nicky Pløk (UNI-FLY) In 2007 the maintenance crew at Horns Rev saw this.. 15

16 Post construction monitoring 31 Horns Rev 2- monitoring programme The consent conditions for Horns Rev 2: The monitoring programme must be carried out for 3 years after commissioning comprising: Studies of barrier effects and risk of collision of migrating birds, including cumulative effects and possible trans-borders effects of several wind farms located on birds migratory route. Clarification of scope and consequences and possible habitat loss for common scoters, including cumulative effects and possible trans- border effects of several wind farms in the same area. Clarification and assessment of harbour porpoises' reactions during the construction and operating phases. 16

17 Clausen, : Translating ecology research to practice Horns Rev 2- monitoring programme After establishment of the environmental committee for Horns Rev 2 the following environmental monitoring programme was decided: Baseline (fall '07 07, spring '08, fall '08) Construction (2008) Post construction (from fall '10 10 or spring '11) Migrating Birds Migrating Birds: Barrier, cumulative and trans-border effects Common Scoter Food basis (Common Scoter) Common Scoter: Habitat loss, change of feeding areas, cumulative and trans-border effects Harbour Porpoises Horns Rev 2- common scoter main supplementary The modeling of the food basis for common scooter showed that HR 1+2 lies outside the main feeding area of the birds. But HR 2 lies within the area of the supplementary food source. 17

18 Horns Rev 2- migrating birds Resting birds were primary found along the coastline. For migratory birds all results are not in yet, but the trend is that there is limited spring migration and much heavier autumn migration. Translating research to practice? Ecology is one of the five cornerstones of WF development: Wind, grid, ecology, public acceptance and economy We are extending our infrastructure with more renewable energy one activity is ecological research to create the necessary basis for selection of sites and for those sites selected to minimise the environmental impact of wind farms Strategic Environmental Assessment to select areas Scoping exercise for each project (select the essentials) International cooperation (methods & results) 36 18

19 Joint Declaration between Sweden, Germany and Denmark on Cooperation in the Field of Research on Offshore Wind Energy Deployment Exchange of ideas, information, data and experiences on the atmospheric and marine environment in the European Seas relevant for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment, on the marine ecosystems and their interaction ti with technical systems for Offshore Wind Energy Deployment and on measures to detect, reduce and mitigate such possible influences on ecosystems. Collaborate on integration of large amounts of offshore wind energy into the electrical system and to study the concerted development of offshore grids in the adjacent seas as for example the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, as well as collaboration in technical related aspects of Offshore Wind Energy Deployment. Joint study FINO3 and Horns Rev 2: Marine mammals and pile ramming Norway interested to join, UK and Holland considering 37 Conclusions In general little impact found on marine life Birds seems to adjust and results suggest that loss of habitat can be avoided d Migrating birds avoid flying inside the wind farms (low collision risk) Harbour porpoises return to the sites after construction Seals behaviour not affected Artificial reef effect leads to added bio-diversity In general public acceptance We need to look at cumulative effects when we make lots of wind farms in an area 38 19

20 The future Horns rev MW under construction c/kwh May 2008 consent was given to Rødsand MW Next wind farm will be near the island of Anholt. Bidding for 400 MW is expected to be New model for bidding is applied. Energinet.dk (Danish TSO) is responsible for the initial development, sea bed investigations and EIA of an area slightly larger than the actual wind farm. The time for bidding is postponed and risks (and costs) are reduced. Better economy for society expected. Locations for future offshore wind farms identified 39 DK Energy Authority preparing for sites of 200 MW identified 4600 MW Equivalent to 8 % of total demand or 50% of electricity demand Consultation answers is taken into account A sensitivity analysis is too be conducted and used in the decisionmaking process for the actual site selection +400 MW