Skip to main content

Partnering with WREN, questionnaires are sent to offshore wind energy developers around the world who are involved in environmental monitoring. This page provides contextual project information and highlights environmental monitoring, providing links to available data and reports. Content is updated annually.

Firefly/Bandibuli Floating Wind Farm

Firefly Wind farm

Contents

Wind Project Site

Title: Firefly/Bandibuli Floating Wind Farm
Status:
Planning
Project Manager:
Equinor
Foundation Manufacturer:
Samsung Heavy Industries
Info Last Updated:
Contact:
Info
(login for email address)
Website:
External Link

Details

Technology:
Floating Offshore Wind
Project Scale:
Commercial Farm
Turbine Model:
Wind Semi
Hub Height:
139 m
Rotor Diameter:
236 m
Number of Turbines:
50
Capacity per Turbine:
15 MW
Installed Capacity:
750 MW
Support Structure:
Semi-Taut Mooring, Semi-Submersible, Suction Anchor
Export Cables:
AC
Export Cable Voltage:
230 kV
Number of Export Cables:
2
Cable Landfall:
Other
Physical Site:
Deep Water (>60m), Marine, Soft-Bottom Habitat
Water Depth:
150-300 m
Distance from Shore:
70 km
Country:
Korea South

Description

The Firefly (Bandibuli) Floating Offshore Wind Farm project is being developed by Equinor as part of the Ulsan floating offshore wind farm and is on track to become one of the first floating offshore wind farms in Korea. The Firefly Offshore Wind Farm will cover approximately 160 km2 and will have a total installed capacity of 750-800 MW.  

Location

The Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm is located 70 km off the coast of Ulsan with the nearest port being the Port of Ulsan. The two export cables will have a landfall point at Onsan (Southern Ulsan).

Project Timeline

  • July 2024: Equinor obtained approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
  • 2022: Submitted EIA scoping report, Draft EIA report, conducted Information session of EIA
  • 2022: Site Investigations (environmental impact statement: ex. Marine Sediment and Ecosystem, Underwater noise, Seabird, and Mammal, etc.), Geophysical Survey (by Geoview), and Front End Engineering esign (FEED) Study
  • 2021: Project Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed
  • December 2021: Equinor obtained the electric business licence (EBL) from the Korean authorities.
  • 2020: Metocean data collection
  • May 2019: Equinor signed an MoU with Ulsan city

Licensing Information

The Firefly/Bandibuli Floating Wind Farm is overseen by several South Korean government agencies. The Ministry of Environment reviewed and approved the project's Enviornmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in July 2024 following a two-year evaluation process. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy also participate in the regulatory process, overseeing marine use and energy infrastructure development in accordance with national policies. 

Key Environmental Issues

In December 2021, Equinor started surveys to collect data for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which are undertaken to ensure any potential significant environmental effects that may arise because of the construction and operation of the Firefly Offshore Wind Project, are properly understood.

The surveys were conducted initially over a 2-year period and included: marine mammals, seabirds, seawater and sediment quality, marine ecology, fish, marine physics, underwater noise, etc. Sekwang Engineering Co. Ltd., was appointed by Equinor to manage the surveys which were undertaken by specialist subcontractors and conducted in the offshore wind turbine array area as well as the proposed cable route to shore and onshore. 

Environmental Monitoring: Firefly/Bandibuli Floating Wind Farm

ID Phase Stressor & Receptor Design and Methods Results Publications Data
2074717 Baseline Birds Bird Surveys
The status of the terrestrial ecosystem (flora, vegetation, fauna, inland water organisms, migratory birds, legally protected species, etc.) at the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project site and surrounding areas (within 0.5km radius) will be surveyed. A review of the bird movement and habitat changes due to the installation of structures will be conducted.
Starting in 2022, the survey vessel will undertake seabird and marine mammal survey works along with the Firefly offshore wind farm areas and export cable route in Ulsan and coastal areas. 		Ongoing
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2083851 Baseline Fish, Invertebrates Sampling Surveys
This will involve four surveys to be undertaken seasonally and include sampling at ten locations using a gill net. The goal is to characterize the fish and shellfish that could be impacted by the project by determining their abundance and distribution within the study area. 		Results pending
Ongoing 		RPS group 2023 No data publicly available.
2074723 Baseline Fish, Marine Mammals, Reptiles Underwater Noise Monitoring
A four-season field survey will be conducted at the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project site and surrounding areas (within a 0.5km radius) to assess the sources of noise and vibration, survey the status of noise and vibration and underwater noise. Starting in 2022, the survey vessel undertook underwater noise and acoustic monitoring survey works along the Firefly offshore wind farm areas and export cable routes in Ulsan offshore and coastal areas.

Predictions on the impact of construction equipment operation as well as the impact of power generation facilities during operation will be made. Composite noise calculation and point sound source distance attenuation formulas will be applied. 		Ongoing
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2074718 Baseline Marine Mammals Field Surveys
A four-season field survey will be conducted at the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project site and surrounding areas (within a 0.5km radius) to identify the habitats of marine animals and plants (animal and phytoplankton, fish roe and fingerling, sub-tidal benthic animals, intertidal benthic animals, fish and aquatic resources, marine mammals, etc.). Quantitative methods will be used to predict the impact and extent of impact on the ecosystem due to the spread of suspended sediment during the project. 		Ongoing
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2083850 Baseline Marine Mammals Vessel-based Visual Surveys and Acoustic Monitoring
The surveys proposed will include a combination of vessel-based visual surveys and acoustic monitoring conducted on a monthly basis, over a year, within the proposed array area and export cable route. Survey programs may be extended to supplement the initial 12-month survey where data gaps have been identified, and additional data may be required to address scientific uncertainty. 		Results Pending
Ongoing 		RPS group 2023 No data publicly available.
2074719 Baseline Physical Environment Air Quality
Air quality around the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project area will be analyzed. Pollutant production will be calculated, and concentration will be predicted via a diffusion model (scattered dust, etc.). 		Planned
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2074720 Baseline Physical Environment Soil Pollution
The status of soil pollution around the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project area will be checked. Soil pollution due to soil spill and obstacle removal will be predicted. 		Planned
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2074721 Baseline Physical Environment Water Quality & Sediment Surveys
A four-season field survey will be conducted at the Firefly Floating Offshore Wind Farm project site and surrounding areas (within a 0.5km radius) to assess the status of sea water quality, sea bottom quality, and marine physics (tide, wave, continuous tidal current, continuous suspended sediment, distribution of spatial suspended sediment, marine bottom material survey). Starting in 2022, the survey vessel undertook sea water and sediment survey works along with the Firefly offshore wind farm areas and export cable route in Ulsan offshore and coastal areas. Numerical model experiments will be used to predict the impact on the marine environment. 		Ongoing
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.
2074722 Baseline Reptiles Reptile Survey
Starting in 2023, the survey vessel undertook reptile survey works along the Firefly offshore wind farm areas and export cable route in Ulsan offshore and coastal areas. 		Ongoing
Results pending 		Equinor south Korea Corp Ltd 2022 No data publicly available.