Beatrice Offshore Wind Farm
During June and July 2006, Talisman
Energy (UK) Ltd. commissioned the barge
“Rambiz” to pile-drive two jackets for the
Beatrice Wind Farm demonstrator project
in the Outer Moray Firth. This is a sensitive
area for marine mammals, therefore a
project specific environmental protection
plan was devised to mitigate impacts of
pile-driving noise on marine mammals. RPS
provided two marine mammal observers
(MMOs), one of whom was also operating
a passive acoustic
monitoring (PAM) system, were stationed
onboard a fishing vessel during all piledriving operations. The MMOs carried out
line transect surveys as well as guarding
a 1 km safety zone for 30 minutes prior
to and during pile-driving operations. All
marine logistical operations for the MMO
and PAM operations were coordinated by
RPS and the final deliverables to the client
included integration of the underwater
noise data supplied by the client.
Marine mammal species seen during the surveys. Top row left to right: Harbour porpoise, short-beaked
common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin. Bottom row left to right: minke whale, grey seal, common seal
(Photos: Maren Reichelt & Mick Baines).
The IHC S-500 Hydrohammer being lowered
into position.
Deployment (top row) and retrieval (bottom row) of the PAM buoy.
Photos: Maren Reichelt & Mick Baines.
Please call free on 08000 85 83 84
rpsgroup.com
Supporting the Renewables Industry
RPS knows that the production of renewable
energy represents a significant challenge
to developers. We have responded to this
challenge by developing new and innovative
ways of working. We assist clients with cost
effective and flexible support based on a
high level of renewables experience. Our
dedicated Renewables team provide a fully
project managed multi-disciplinary package
from start to finish, including due diligence
and initial project feasibility, right through
to planning determination, construction
support and monitoring. Our Renewables
team is currently engaged in over 100 wind
farm projects, making RPS one of the leading
consultancies in the renewable sector.
The RPS team is available to work on
many disciplines of the renewable sector,
outlined below.
n Socio-economics and Tourism
n Ornithology and Collision Risk
n Hydrology and Hydrogeology
Engineering
n Geotechnical, Geophysical,
Oceanographic and Benthic Surveys
n Beach Landing Surveys
n Foundation Design, Cable Routing
and Burial Assessment
n Hazard Analyses and Assessments
n Installation Management
n Health & Safety
n Tender Contract Management
Planning and Consents
Environmental
n Central Government Applications
n Environmental Impact Assessments
n Local Government Applications
n Landscape and Visual Assessment
(ZVI and Photomontage)
n Development Plan Representation
n Shadow Flicker and Health & Safety
n Planning Applications and Appeals
n Public Inquiries and Expert Witness
n Baseline Studies
n Coastal Process Modelling
n Commercial Fisheries Studies
n Archaeology
n Noise Assessment and Modelling
n Ecology - Habitat and species surveys
n Telecoms and Radar Interference
Grid Connection Appraisal
n Best Practicable Environmental
Option Studies
n Site Selections Studies
n GIS Constraints Mapping
n Site Feasibility Studies
n Due Diligence
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n Traffic, Transport and Access
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Please call free on 08000 85 83 84
rpsgroup.com