Review report 2004 The Danish Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration Project: Horns Rev and Nysted Offshore Wind Farms Environmental impact assessment and monitoring Prepared for The Environmental Group By Elsam Engineering and ENERGI E2 October 2005 - 1 - Review Report 2004 The Danish Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration Project: Horns Rev and Nysted Offshore Wind Farm Environmental impact assessment and monitoring Report prepared by: ENERGI E2 A/S Teglholmen A.C. Meyers Vænge 9 DK-2450 København SV Contact: Charlotte Boesen Telephone: +45 4480 6000 Telefax: +45 4480 6604 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.e2.dk Elsam Engineering A/S Kraftværksvej 53 DK-7000 Fredericia Contact: Jette Kjær Telephone: +45 7923 3187 Telefax: +45 7556 4477 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.elsam-eng.com Report prepared for: The environmental Committee of the Danish Offshore Wind Farm Demonstration Projects Information note! Environmental studies are to be carried out at Nysted and Horns Rev during the period 1999-2006 under the terms of permission to wind farm construction at the two sites, granted by the Danish authorities. The installation of wind turbines was finished in the autumn of 2002 (Horns Rev) and the summer of 2003 (Nysted). Hence, the annual status reports for 2004 represent data from just more than a year after the initial commissioning of the wind farms. Thus, natural variation between years, seasons, species and sites and the possible habituation effects during the operational phase cannot be fully considered. The results in all individual annual status reports from our consultants are to be considered as preliminary and must await the final compilation of data in 2005 before firm conclusions can be drawn with respect to impact on the biological environment. The final environmental impact assessment for the two wind farms is planned to be undertaken when the programmes are terminated in 2006. - 2 - 1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................................... 6 2 POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF OFFSHORE WIND FARMS .............................................................................. 8 POTENTIAL IMPACTS DURING CONSTRUCTION ...................................................................................................................8 2.1 DESTRUCTION OF BOTTOM AREA..............................................................................................................................8 2.2 SEDIMENT SPILL AND INCREASED TURBIDITY.........................................................................................................8 2.3 NOISE AND VIBRATIONS.............................................................................................................................................9 2.4 ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS.......................................................................................................................................9 2.5 PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF THE WIND TURBINES........................................................................................................9 2.6 DISTURBANCES.........................................................................................................................................................10 2.7 INTRODUCTION OF HARD SUBSTRATE HABITATS..................................................................................................10 3 POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ELEMENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT ..................................................10 3.1 HYDROGRAPHY / GEOMORPHOLOGY.....................................................................................................................10 3.2 MARINE BOTTOM FAUNA AND FLORA....................................................................................................................10 3.3 FISH .............................................................................................................................................................................11 3.4 MAMMALS.................................................................................................................................................................11 3.5 SEALS..........................................................................................................................................................................12 3.6 HARBOUR PORPOISES...............................................................................................................................................12 3.7 BIRDS..........................................................................................................................................................................13 3.8 VISUAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ................................................................................................................14 3.9 ORDER OF PRIORITY FOR PROJECT ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WIND FARMS.........................................14 3.10 REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................................................15 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFSHORE WIND FARM SITES .......................................................................16 5 HORNS REV .................................................................................................................................................................16 5.1 DESCRIPTION OF THE HORNS REV WIND FARM AREA..........................................................................................16 5.2 CABLE CONNECTION TO LAND................................................................................................................................17 5.3 DESIGNATED AREAS.................................................................................................................................................17 5.4 SHIP TRAFFIC.............................................................................................................................................................18 5.5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERESTS................................................................................................................................19 5.6 HYDROGRAPHY / GEOMORPHOLOGY .....................................................................................................................19 5.6.1 Environmental Impact Assessment...................................................................................................20 5.6.2 Baseline 2001..............................................................................................................................................20 5.7 BENTHIC VEGETATION AND FAUNA........................................................................................................................21 5.7.1 Environmental Impact Assessment...................................................................................................21 5.7.2 Baseline 2001..............................................................................................................................................22 5.7.3 Monitoring 2002........................................................................................................................................23 5.7.4 Monitoring 2003........................................................................................................................................23 5.7.5 Monitoring 2004........................................................................................................................................23 5.8 INTRODUCTION OF HARD BOTTOM SUBSTRATE....................................................................................................24 5.8.1 Monitoring 2003........................................................................................................................................24 5.8.2 Monitoring 2004........................................................................................................................................25 5.9 FISH .............................................................................................................................................................................27 5.9.1 Environmental Impact Assessment...................................................................................................27 5.9.2 Baseline 2001..............................................................................................................................................28 5.9.3 Monitoring 2002........................................................................................................................................28 5.9.4 Monitoring 2003........................................................................................................................................29 5.9.5 Monitoring 2004........................................................................................................................................29 5.10 MAMMALS............................................................................................................................................................31 5.10.1 Environmental Impact Assessment...................................................................................................31 5.10.2 Baseline 2001..............................................................................................................................................32 5.10.3