Impact of Offshore Wind Farm Sub-sea Cable B-fields on Important Crustacean Species

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy)

Basic and strategic applied research

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr M G Bentley
School of Marine Science and Technology
Newcastle University

R&D

NERC

01 October 2008

30 September 2012

48 months

£70,590

Power

North East

Dr M G Bentley, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University

Professor MJ Downie, School of Marine Science and Technology, Newcastle University
Mr J Neasham, Electrical, Electronic & Computer Eng, Newcastle University

Objectives not supplied

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.

04/09/08