Industry-first compensation methods to allow for Grimsby’s offshore wind expansion have been rolled out by Orsted.
Artificial nesting structures, specially designed to house kittiwakes - a vulnerable seabird species - have now been installed. The three mini-platforms, built on scaled down monopile structures similar to those used to secure the huge turbines in the seabed, will address potential impacts from the build out of Hornsea Three.
It is the next farm to be constructed by the company and served from the Royal Dock-based East Coast Hub in the world-leading zone. The project, awaiting a final investment decision from Copenhagen, was the first 海角视频 offshore wind development to require ecological compensation measures.
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Eleni Antoniou, environmental manager at Orsted, said: “Kittiwake are listed as at risk from extinction and with climate change as a key driver to their decline, a move towards a green energy system could help considerably in the long-term conservation of the species. In the meantime, the provision of these structures will provide a safe, nesting space to enable future generations to raise young away from predators and out of town centres.
“This is a first of its kind project that required a great deal of collaborative work with stakeholders, architects, engineers and ecologists to develop a bespoke solution. We have already had our first kittiwake visitor to the structures and look forward to seeing our first long-term residents. We’d like to thank all those involved in this ground-breaking project so far.”
The platforms are located off the Suffolk coast. Despite a lack of suitable natural nesting sites such as cliffs, black-legged kittiwake have colonised the area and populations are expanding, highlighting its ecological suitability. It makes the location one of the most likely places for artificial structures to be colonised quickly and for the compensation measures to have the highest chance of success.The structures are located approximately a kilometre offshore - with one close to the Minsmere Nature Reserve and the other two located near South Beach, Lowestoft.
Produced using 3D-printed recycled materials, each features an octagonal 11m by 8m topside, with capacity for around 500 breeding pairs. The roof pitch and overhang were specifically designed to mitigate avian predators.
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The nesting faces have alternating rows of fully partitioned, open, and semi-partitioned ledges. This experimental design will provide valuable insight on the nesting preferences of kittiwake and help inform future compensation projects for the industry.
Individual nesting spaces are fitted with a sliding panel which will allow researchers to view the birds from inside the structures without the birds being able to see them, as well as allowing for safe handling for monitoring purposes.
Cameras have been installed on each to capture birds’ prospecting and nesting attempts.
Existing colonies will be monitored by Orsted for the lifetime of the ANS, with £50,000 provided to support the Lowestoft Kittiwake Partnership, which aims to safeguard nesting birds.
Suffolk-based Red7Marine took the principal contractor role for the fabrication and installation of the structures, working closely with contract partner Four Tees Engineering.