Seabird 3D Distribution and Relative Risk from California Offshore Wind Turbines
Evaluate the tradeoffs between seabird mortality risk and offshore wind farm performance
Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation
Recipient
Arcata, CA
Recipient Location
2nd
Senate District
2nd
Assembly District
$489,432
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project team has completed its modeling of offshore wind energy generation across a number of areas along the California coast, including the recent Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) lease areas. Modeling of 3D seabird density across the study region has also been completed. This 3D density model accounts for 2D distribution of seabirds and their flight heights as they relate to the varying wind conditions off the coast of California. Finally, a Pareto front analysis was used to asses the trade-offs between power generation and vulnerability to seabirds. These analyses showed that the majority of seabird density is focused below 10m in elevation, with only 8% of the estimated density of seabirds in the study area falling above 10m. Additionally, the Pareto optimality analysis comparing locations across the study area shows that the two objectives are not very conflicting, since the best wind resources typically fall further offshore while seabirds tend to be more concentrated near shore. The project team has completed the final report, which is expected to be published in 2025.
The Issue
Future offshore wind development in California may create a risk to seabirds for collision or displacement. Existing seabird models, which describe the density and species composition in the California Current, can be used to identify hot spots for seabird activity, but these models do not delineate the presence of seabirds at different heights above the sea surface. Without incorporating flight height and how flight behavior changes with wind speed, it is difficult to accurately estimate the potential impact to seabirds from offshore wind farms.
Project Innovation
The project team has completed its modeling of offshore wind energy generation across a number of areas along the California coast, including the recent BOEM lease areas. Modeling of 3D seabird density across the study region has also been completed. This 3D density model accounts for 2D distribution of seabirds and their flight heights as they relate to the varying wind conditions off the coast of California. Finally, a Pareto front analysis was used to assess the trade-offs between power generation and vulnerability to seabirds. These analyses showed that the majority of seabird density is focused below 10m in elevation with only 8% of the estimated density of seabirds in the study area falling above 10m. Additionally, the Pareto optimality analysis comparing locations across the study area shows that the two objectives are not very conflicting, since the best wind resources typically fall further offshore while seabirds tend to be more concentrated near shore.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project will lead to technological advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers to the achievement of the State of California's statutory energy goals by providing information to project developers, permitting agencies, and turbine manufacturers about the conflicts between seabirds and turbines at various heights above the sea surface and allow them to design turbines and projects that minimize the impacts.
The efforts to support environmentally responsible offshore wind development would help enable California to achieve high renewable energy penetration in the electric grid. Furthermore, the 3D seabird model will allow project developers to understand the conflict between seabirds and turbines at different heights above the sea surface.
Affordability
By enabling environmentally responsible offshore wind farm design and siting, the outputs from this model can help reduce environmental permitting costs.
Environmental Sustainability
This project will suggest strategies to develop offshore wind farms that result in fewer bird deaths. This will help enable development of a substantial renewable energy resource and reduce impacts to birds.
Key Project Members
Eli Wallach
David Stoms
Sharon Kramer
Arne Jacobson
Subrecipients
H. T. Harvey & Associates
Match Partners
Cal Poly Humboldt Sponsored Programs Foundation
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