London Array Offshore Wind Farm benthic monitoring

DATE

June 2018

CLIENT

Location

Outer Thames Estuary

services

Laboratory

We completed the three-year post-construction benthic monitoring programme required as part of the Marine Licence conditions for the London Array Offshore Windfarm located in the outer Thames Estuary.

This substantial programme at the world’s largest operational offshore wind farm involved collection of grab and trawl samples at nearly 300 locations.

Picture of a grab sample being retrieved from the sea with a wind farm in the background

This was followed by macrobenthic and particle size distribution analysis of samples to test for potential impacts within the wind farm and its environs as well as areas close to the turbines themselves.

Picture of a survey team member kneeling on a boat deck picking small sea creatures from a seabed sample

We subsequently conducted a detailed analysis of datasets spanning the pre- and post-construction periods to validate the predictions made during the Environmental Impact Assessment.

All project outputs were successfully delivered on time and budget and we were praised for the high quality and health and safety standards demonstrated throughout the contract.

About the project

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