Why we need to safeguard Scotland’s seabirds
Emily Nelson
Ecology manager
Scotland is a global player in renewable energy because it is in a unique position to harness wind power to produce world-leading clean, green energy.
However, sustainable energy generation goes beyond meeting net zero targets. We must also be conscious of our natural surroundings to ensure the project is sustainable. The results of the most recent national census have shown that almost half of seabirds breeding in the UK have declined over the last 20 years. It's imperative that measures are taken to protect these globally important species.
SSE’s Ecology Manager, Emily Nelson, tells us more about how the proposed Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm project is adapting its approach to minimise impacts on local seabird populations.
Minimising impact to Scotland’s seabirds
Berwick Bank will be situated 30km off the coast of East Lothian. Seabirds breeding along this coastline are capable of travelling the same distance offshore to feed, so it is vital we ensure the project has minimal impact on these birds when they are at sea.
As part of SSE’s sustainability team, my specialism is in ornithology - the study of birds.
Berwick Bank is required by law to assess the potential effects of the project on wildlife. I help to assess the possible impacts of the project on seabirds, and work with the wider SSE team to minimise and mitigate any risks. To do this, we work with key stakeholders and follow best practice guidance informed by emerging evidence from monitoring at our sites already in operation such as Beatrice Offshore Windfarm.
Research has shown us that increasing the gap between the sea and the blades at their lowest height can reduce potential collisions. In 2021, Berwick Bank took the decision to raise the height of the wind turbine blades from 22 metres to 37 metres, significantly reducing predicted impacts. In 2022, the overall area of the project was reduced by around 20%, in addition to a previous reduction of 10% in 2021, in order to minimise the footprint of the project on important feeding habitat for seabirds.
Using tech to monitor seabirds
SSE Renewables is seeking to work alongside the UK and Scottish Governments, and other stakeholders to help restore the health of the North Sea’s marine ecosystem, including the delivery of a suite of measures designed to enhance our seabird populations. Once consent is granted, Berwick Bank plans to utilise cutting-edge research and technology to monitor how seabirds respond to both the project and to enhancement measures, building upon our existing collaborative work with other offshore wind developers across the Forth and Tay region. Our hope is that this work will contribute vital evidence that will see Berwick Bank as a model for future offshore wind farms.
We want to ensure that all local stakeholders are involved, and for the public to understand that wildlife preservation is one of SSE Renewables’s key commitments for all our projects including Berwick Bank. As part of this commitment to supporting seabird populations, we also have regular engagement with the Seabird Centre in North Berwick.
The climate is changing
Berwick Bank is championing renewable energy in Scotland. To put it simply, the Scottish Government’s targets of net zero will not be met without Berwick Bank Offshore Wind Farm. All those working on Berwick Bank, are helping to rapidly deliver large-scale, green energy in an incredibly short timeframe to make a real contribution to net zero targets and help mitigate the effects of climate change.
From an ornithology perspective, this could not be more important to the preservation of our seabird populations. Climate change has significantly impacted our seabird populations, and this is only set to continue. The project has a crucial role to play in helping to address the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Emily Nelson
Ecology manager, SSE Renewables