Offshore wind avoid more carbon dioxide emissions
Burbo Bank offshore wind farm will save 6.4 million tonnes of CO2 over its lifetime
The sea area known as Burbo Bank, off the UK coast near the port of Liverpool, is exposed to the full force of winds from the west. The Irish Sea and its shifting sands were once feared by storm-driven sailing ships. These same winds and shallow waters now make it an ideal location for offshore wind turbines.
With stronger winds out at sea, the 90 MW Burbo Bank wind farm is more productive than a similar cluster of turbines on land. It therefore avoids the emission of more carbon dioxide, the main gas contributing to dangerous climate change. Over its 20 year lifetime the wind park is expected to save a total of 6.4 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Building wind farms in the sea also involves considering their potential impact on the marine environment. At Burbo Bank these impacts were carefully assessed in accordance with the rules on Environmental Impact Assessments laid down by European law. This includes such issues as seabird breeding and feeding grounds, fishing activity and noise during construction.
All the assessments undertaken by the Danish project developers, Dong Energy, showed that there would be no significant impacts on coastal processes, bird and marine life or archaeology. Where impacts were identified, appropriate mitigation measures have been implemented.
The sea area known as Burbo Bank, off the UK coast near the port of Liverpool, is exposed to the full force of winds from the west. The Irish Sea and its shifting sands were once feared by storm-driven sailing ships. These same winds and shallow waters now make it an ideal location for offshore wind turbines.
With stronger winds out at sea, the 90 MW Burbo Bank wind farm is more productive than a similar cluster of turbines on land. It therefore avoids the emission of more carbon dioxide, the main gas contributing to dangerous climate change. Over its 20 year lifetime the wind park is expected to save a total of 6.4 million tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere.
Building wind farms in the sea also involves considering their potential impact on the marine environment. At Burbo Bank these impacts were carefully assessed in accordance with the rules on Environmental Impact Assessments laid down by European law. This includes such issues as seabird breeding and feeding grounds, fishing activity and noise during construction.
All the assessments undertaken by the Danish project developers, Dong Energy, showed that there would be no significant impacts on coastal processes, bird and marine life or archaeology. Where impacts were identified, appropriate mitigation measures have been implemented.
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