Environment

Environment

DONG Energy has carried out the Environmental Statement process and in effect the statutory consents were given in November 2007. The layout of the project areas is made with consideration to navigation.


Special impact on Whooper Swans has been investigated. Also Pink Footed Goose and Harbour Porpoise are species which need to be given special considerations.

First of all a baseline for the biological environment in the area will be outlined - this is one year before any activity will be going on at all. Further investigations and surveys will go on during the construction period and after end of construction.

Some of the key areas that have been addressed within the EIA for the Walney project are:
  • Birds, fish, mammals and benthic, or the ecology of the seabed
  • Shipping and navigation
  • Coastal processes
  • Visual impact
  • Boat traffic
  • Noise
  • Socio-economics.
In May 2009, the DONG Energy Supervisory Board approved the construction and commissioning of Walney Offshore Windfarm, phase I and II.
 

Download the Environmental Statement – Non-technical Summary, March 2006 here.

Walney Non Technical Summary (3 MB).

About Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

The European Union Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive requires an EIA to be completed in support of an application for development of certain types of projects, including offshore wind farms.

An EIA has been undertaken for the Walney Windfarm phase 1 resulting in an Environmental Statement (ES), and the Non-Technical Summary (NTS) provides a summary of the key findings of the EIA process. The Non-Technical Summary can be downloaded at the top of this page.
The EIA has assessed the likely significant impacts of the proposed project on the physical, biological and human environment and, where appropriate, suggested mitigation measures to minimise the severity of any impacts.