Abstract
Ireland’s Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act (2015) and the 2021 Amendment Act, National Marine Planning Framework, as well as the Future Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy, including its Designated Maritime Area Plan (DMAP) mechanism, and the upcoming Marine Protected Areas Bill provide a normative system with conditions for biodiversity protection in offshore wind energy expansion and energy transition. Recently enacted, the EU Restoration Law would reinforce Ireland’s national policy system by providing a legally binding imperative from an overarching EU level for the restoration of degraded ecosystems.
This report presents the findings of a literature review and analysis of initiatives for integrating biodiversity aspects into the design, construction, operation, and decommissioning of offshore wind farms (OWFs) in Ireland. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate options for enhancing biodiversity in offshore wind projects.
The study identified 123 relevant nature-based solutions (NBS) projects from around the world, which were then rated based on their suitability and efficacy potential for Ireland.
The methodology involved a systematic literature review using various research databases and keyword searches to identify relevant papers and reports. The review primarily focused on projects and initiatives conducted in North America and Europe that are particularly relevant to the species and habitats found in Ireland.
View the Executive Summary here.
The full copy of the report and the infographic are available on request.