Projects
Projects: Projects for Investigator |
||
| Reference Number | NE/G524387/1 | |
| Title | Impact of Offshore Wind Farm Sub-sea Cable B-fields on Important Crustacean Species | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 70%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 30%; |
|
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Dr M G (Matthew ) Bentley No email address given School of Marine Science and Technology Newcastle University |
|
| Award Type | R&D | |
| Funding Source | NERC | |
| Start Date | 01 October 2008 | |
| End Date | 30 September 2012 | |
| Duration | 48 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £70,590 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Power | |
| Region | North East | |
| Programme | ||
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Dr M G (Matthew ) Bentley , School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University (99.998%) |
| Other Investigator | Mr J (Jeffrey ) Neasham , Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng, Newcastle University (0.001%) Professor MJ (Martin ) Downie , School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University (0.001%) |
|
| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | Objectives not supplied | |
| Abstract | Electromagnetic fields generated by offshore wind farm sub-sea cables are one of the least researched environmental threats considered in all Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for offshore wind farm development. The most significant contribution in this context is made by the B-field component of the electromagnetic field (CMACS, 2005). A pilot study investigating the behaviour of the shorecrab, Carcinus maenas, when exposed to B-fieldssimulating those in the vicinity of offshore wind farm sub-sea cables showed statistical significant changes in responses to key behavioural indicators. Building on these findings, this proposal is concerned with an integrated research project investigating the electromagnetic properties of offshore wind farm sub-sea cables and any impacts they maypose to commercially important crustacean species. Another important N. Sea fishery species is the plaice, Pleuronectes platessa, which spends up to 3 years of its life in coastal regions. This demersal (near bottom dwelling) species potentially may be affected by perturbation in magnetic fields caused by sub-sea cables. It has been shown that plaice transplanted to unfamiliar areas tended to orient towards their capture site giving support that this species uses the magnetic field of the Earth as a navigational tool (Metcalfe et al, 2006). The results of the proposed study may, therefore, have wider relevance to other commercially important species like the plaice. The study will focus on aspects that potentially threaten the utilisation of offshore wind farm energy which is consideredanextremely important enabling technology in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (Rodmell & Johnson, 2005). The research will require the collaboration of electrical engineers (EE), marinebiologists (MB), offshore engineers (OE) and neuroscientists (NS) from both the academic and industry sectors. | |
| Publications | (none) |
|
| Final Report | (none) |
|
| Added to Database | 04/09/08 | |
