The surveys gather information on the species, numbers, distribution, and population densities of birds and marine mammals in the area, which will provide baseline data as Vattenfall progresses its development plans.
Once constructed, the proposed wind farm would be one of the largest in the world with a capacity of 1.8 GW and would generate enough clean energy to supply around 1.3 million homes. The site is located approximately 55 km off the coast of Norfolk, to the north of Vattenfall’s existing Norfolk Vanguard wind farm area.
The contract is among the latest in a series of successes for APEM, which is now surveying seven sites in the North Sea and two in the Irish Sea, as well as offshore sites in Germany and the USA.
The company’s aircraft-mounted camera systems gather exceptionally high-quality data from any height to well above 2,000 feet. This allows APEM’s in-house ornithology team to identify the species of well over 95 percent of the birds in the images and also provides precise bird flight heights that satisfy the requirements of statutory agencies.
APEM Group’s project manager, Sean Sweeney, said:
We’re delighted that Vattenfall has again chosen us to provide high resolution aerial surveys.
We know how important it is for developers to have data that they can rely on and which are trusted by regulators. We ensure high quality data for our clients through our grid-based survey patterns, bespoke camera systems and software, in-house image analysts and external quality control partnerships with the British Trust for Ornithology and Sea Mammal Research Unit.
We have also never missed a survey window, despite only flying when the weather is optimum for gathering data.
APEM Group flying high over Norfolk Vanguard
Aerial survey specialist APEM Group will complete a final survey over Vattenfall’s Norfolk Vanguard East site this month, as part of an eight month project.
APEM Group aerial surveys extended at Gwynt y Môr
APEM Group will carry out an initial first year of post-construction aerial surveys at the world’s second largest offshore wind farm, off the coast of North Wales.
