Offshore wind developments

Offshore wind

Offshore wind is an established and proven renewable energy technology.

In Wales, we have three operational offshore wind farms off the North Wales coast: Gwynt y Mor, Rhyl Flats and North Hoyle as well as transmission cables from nearby developments.

Offshore windfarms can have impacts on the environment including, birds, marine mammals, benthic ecology, fish and visual impacts. Careful planning and siting of developments is essential to avoid and minimise impacts.

Guidance on consenting and assessments

• Marine licence information and guidance on applying from our permitting service
• Using adaptive management for marine developments
• Scoping an Environmental Impact Assessment for marine developments
• Advice for developers

Guidance on receptors

Our Marine development page contains general information on receptors and data for assessment, which may be relevant to this industry.

• Evidence reports on seascape and visual sensitivity to offshore wind farms
  • Stage 1 - The relationship between distance of offshore turbine away from a sensitive receptor and magnitude of visual effects
  • Stage 2 - Offshore wind farm siting and design guidelines in relation to seascapes
  • Stage 3 – Visual sensitivity of the marine settings of Wales’s Designated Landscapes to offshore wind farms
• Advice on sensitivity of marine ecology receptors to cabling activities in Wales for Round 4 (Marine Data Exchange)
• Advice on when you need to conduct an at sea bird survey for marine developments
• Advice on marine mammal management units in habitat regulations assessments

Guidance on data for assessments

• Guidance on our marine habitats and species data and uses in developments

NRW evidence priorities, research and reports

• Marine and coastal evidence reports

Other information sources

• Welsh Government Marine Planning for the Welsh National Marine Plan
• The Crown Estate manage most of the seabed and award leases for developments
• Marine Data Exchange hosted by The Crown Estate where you can access wind data
• JNCC Resource Hub where you can access evidence reports and data
• ORJIP Offshore Wind joint forum coordinated by the Carbon Trust
• Marine Energy Wales bring together stakeholders including floating offshore wind
• Tethys where you can find offshore wind information and research from around the world.

Wales’ natural resources offer great potential to generate renewable energy from the wind, waves and tide. Through sustainably managing these resources we can ensure the right development in the right place, help meet decarbonisation targets and enable blue growth in Wales.

Contact us

If you are considering offshore wind or floating offshore wind project in Welsh waters, please get in touch with us at an early stage marine.area.advice@cyfoethnaturiolcymru.gov.uk