1. Ecological Significance of Electromagnetic Fields Generated by the Offshore Wind Industry EWEC, Athens 2 nd March 2006 Ian Gloyne-Phillips, CMACS Ltd; Andrew Gill, Cranfield University; Yi Huang, Liverpool University

2. EWEC March 2006 Overview of Presentation Electromagnetic Field (EMF) generation

3. EWEC March 2006 Overview of Presentation Electromagnetic Field (EMF) generation Why EMF is an environmental concern

4. EWEC March 2006 Overview of Presentation Electromagnetic Field (EMF) generation Why EMF is an environmental concern What we are doing to address this issue

5. EWEC March 2006 EMF Generation Typical Submarine Power Cable

6. EWEC March 2006 EMF Generation

7. EWEC March 2006 Why is EMF a concern?

8. EWEC March 2006 Because certain marine organisms may be able to detect electromagnetic fields from submarine power cables or offshore substations

9. EWEC March 2006 EMF Detection by Marine Organisms Electric field sensitivity specialised electroreceptors (elasmobranchs)

10. EWEC March 2006 EMF Detection by Marine Organisms Electric field sensitivity detection of voltage gradients (jawless fish and some bony fish)

11. EWEC March 2006 EMF Detection by Marine Organisms Magnetic field sensitivity induced electric field detection (elasmobranchs and some bony fish)

12. EWEC March 2006 EMF Detection by Marine Organisms Magnetic field sensitivity magnetite based detection (e.g. salmonids, Cetacea, Chelonia)

13. EWEC March 2006 Evidence of EMF detection Experimental studies adult behaviour, egg/larval development Observational evidence sharks biting cables apparent reactions to power cables

14. EWEC March 2006 Potential Impacts of EMF Affect orientation Disruption of migrations Attraction/repulsion of animals Egg/larval development impacts

15. EWEC March 2006 Potential Impacts of EMF Particular concern for elasmobranchs

16. EWEC March 2006 Potential Impacts of EMF BUT it is uncertain: 1.if 50 Hz fields of a magnitude produced by submarine power cables are detected 2.if so, whether there is any adverse impact

17. EWEC March 2006 …EMF is an issue for the offshore renewables industry because as a potential environmental impact it is a matter of concern to environmental regulators…

18. EWEC March 2006 …and can therefore affect the consenting of offshore developments…

19. EWEC March 2006 So What are We Doing? Improving understanding –EMF modelling –Experimental studies with animals Field measurements of EMF Monitoring existing offshore wind farms Planning comprehensive research Negotiating with regulators

20. EWEC March 2006 Example Model Scenario (current density) internal E fieldinduced E field

21. EWEC March 2006 Key Outputs of Modelling Magnetic fields up to 1.6 µT (micro Tesla) NB the geomagnetic field is c. 50 µT

22. EWEC March 2006 Key Outputs of Modelling Magnetic fields up to 1.6 µT (micro Tesla) –cf the geomagnetic field (c. 50 µT) iE fields of tens of µV/m (micro Volts/m) –Modelled range 2.5 – 91 µV/m

23. EWEC March 2006 Key Outputs of Modelling Magnetic fields up to 1.6 µT (micro Tesla) –cf the geomagnetic field (c. 50 µT) iE fields of tens of µV/m (micro Volts/m) –modelled range 2.5 – 91 µV/m –within the range which may be attractive to sharks, skates and rays (elasmobranchs)

24. EWEC March 2006 Experimental Studies

25. EWEC March 2006 Field Measurements of EMF Portable E and B field probes

26. EWEC March 2006 Field Measurements of EMF

27. EWEC March 2006 Field Measurements of EMF Field measurements have supported modelling results

28. EWEC March 2006 Photo courtesy Npower Renewables Monitoring Wind Farms

29. EWEC March 2006 Monitoring Wind Farms Fishing surveys results of current programmes are unclear in terms of EMF

30. EWEC March 2006 Future Investigations Further laboratory work

31. EWEC March 2006 Future Investigations Further laboratory work Mesocosm study –control EMF and track fish within a large experimental enclosure

32. EWEC March 2006 Future Investigations Further laboratory work Mesocosm study Large scale tracking study

33. EWEC March 2006 The Consultant’s Dilemma …there are grounds for concern but a lack of good evidence and developers want certainty

34. EWEC March 2006 How we can proceed now Get some answers –requires industry and regulator support

35. EWEC March 2006 How we can proceed now Get some answers –requires industry and regulator support Adaptive management –pragmatic progression of developments

36. EWEC March 2006 How we can proceed now Get some answers –requires industry and regulator support Adaptive management –pragmatic progression of developments React to knowledge as we gain it

37. EWEC March 2006 Thank you.. Contact details ian@cmacsltd.co.uk www.cmacsltd.co.uk