ABPmer to Assess Galloper O&M Facility Impact to Birds

Galloper is a 353 MW extension of Greater Gabbard wind farm off the coast of Suffolk. Its Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Facility at Harwich International Port opened in early 2020 to deliver 24/7 management of the offshore wind farm.  

RWE Renewables, Galloper’s operator and co-owner, is required to undertake two years of bird displacement and disturbance monitoring of the O&M Facility, as a requirement of its marine licence.  

ABPmer has been appointed by Galloper Wind Farm Limited (GWFL) to oversee and report the findings of the bird surveys.   

Natalie Frost, ABPmer’s Planning and Consents Business Manager, said: “Post-consent monitoring is key to ensure the impact of new developments and activities is as expected, and if not, provides a means to deliver adaptive management.   

A two-year bird survey program consisting of 80 separate surveys will be undertaken. From this ABPmer will prepare and submit monthly and annual reports to the MMO on behalf of RWE Renewables.    

The program will provide evidence of what change, if any, occurs in bird populations due to the O&M facility operating.”   

The monitoring and reporting program began in late 2020 and is due to complete in June 2022.  

ABPmer’s ecological surveyors regularly coordinate and undertake post-consent monitoring for coastal and marine developers. As an integrated consultancy and survey company, ABPmer offers a unique service to those operating in the marine environment. Experienced in ecological, geophysical, hydrographic, oceanographic and topographic survey, each can be delivered as a standalone service or as part of a wider, consultancy project.