The UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced a series of new measures to reduce underwater noise levels generated during the construction of offshore wind projects. As part of the government’s plan for change, the measures intended to reduce noise levels in the sea to enable new offshore wind projects to be constructed at pace, especially in more sensitive regions.

The government has collaborated with the Crown Estate Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme and explosives and offshore wind sector representatives to explore and introduce new, quieter alternative technologies for bomb clearance and a suggested pilot to limit noise during offshore wind construction. 
Over 300,000 pieces of unexploded ordnance from the World Wars are believed to be located on UK seabeds, and if encountered, they will have to be removed during the construction phase of offshore wind farms. According to Defra, project operators are expected to apply low-noise disposal procedures to remove barriers, with noisy detonations used at a bare minimum and restricted to very few cases.

Developers must demonstrate concerted efforts to reduce underwater noise while installing offshore wind turbines. A public consultation will follow to determine the future noise limit for offshore wind construction. Emma Hardy, UK Marine Minister, believes that as we expand offshore wind to enable the nation to be a clean energy leader through our Plan for Change, we must protect the vulnerable ecology in our seas. These new measures support the development of offshore wind that the nation requires while making structured decisions to eliminate unnecessary impacts on underwater habitats. Aside from reducing the impacts of loud explosions and pile driving on fragile marine species and commercially valuable fish stocks, measures will eliminate construction delays impacted by disruption to noise limits.

Christina Platt, marine planning officer at the Wildlife Trusts, explains that as the UK seas get busier, we must make concerted efforts to limit unnecessary underwater noise pollution. For many years, the Wildlife Trusts have collaborated with government and nature advisors, regulators and industry to determine solutions to reduce the impact of noise pollution on marine life. Platt praises Defra’s new policy on underwater noise but considers the new proposal a critical step considering the rising pressure on our marine wildlife.

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