Date: Tuesday, 8^th October 2024
Time: 11:00 - 13:00 
Venue: Online (via Microsoft Teams) 

Description

Green Tech Skillnet is delighted to host and support this online webinar on underwater noise (UWN) which has been jointly developed by UCC, MaREI and Wind Energy Ireland.

Ireland has ambitious offshore wind targets set out by the Climate Action Plan to reach 20 GW of offshore wind by 2040 and 37 GW by 2050. As the Phase 1 projects progress through the planning system, and as the next phase located within in the south coast DMAP moves closer towards an ORESS auction, work is underway to develop updated guidance for the management of underwater noise particularly with respect to the assessment, monitoring and mitigation of any potential risks to marine mammals. There are different approaches to the management of underwater noise across Europe and considerable variability in data availability, marine conditions and species distributions in different bodies of water. Finding the right approach for Ireland needs to take all of this into account to ensure that any new guidance will be fit for purpose, and ongoing cross sectoral collaboration and stakeholder engagement will continue to be an essential element for successful outcomes.

This expert panel of speakers joining us from their offshore wind industry, environmental NGO, consultancy, research and academia roles have been brought together to share their perspectives and discuss where Ireland is today with the management of underwater noise, the challenges and opportunities ahead with different approaches, and what may be needed to bridge the gap to be able to implement new UWN guidance for Ireland to best support both the protection of marine life and the development of ORE to reach our climate targets.

AGENDA:

11:00-11:05 Chair introduction
11:05-11:20 Frank Thomsen, Principal Scientist – Underwater Acoustics, DHI: “Best practice for underwater noise risk assessments from Europe and beyond” 
11:20-11:35 Dr. Stephen Comerford, ORE Marine Biodiversity Officer, IWDG: "Noise abatement for windfarm piling in Irish waters" 
11:35-11:50 Signe Nielsen, Environment and Consents Manager, RWE: “An overview of underwater noise mitigation in offshore wind development” 
11:50-12:05 Dr. Alex Brown, Principal Scientist, SMRU Consulting: “Assessing the factors affecting marine mammal auditory injury impact ranges associated with pile driving” 
12:05-12:20 Rogério Chumbinho, Director, Senior Project Manager, BlueWise Marine. “The UNGORE project - A review of Underwater Acoustic Noise management for ORE Developers and Regulatory Authorities” 
12:20-12:35 Gerry Sutton, Senior Research Fellow MaREI / UCC: “The GOMOREUS project - Guidance on Managing Offshore Renewable Energy Underwater Sound” 
12:35-12:40 Chair summary 
RECORDING ENDS
12:40-13:00 Audience Q&A and Discussion 

Niru Dorrian, Senior Offshore Ecology Coordinator, ESB, will also join the discussion as a panellist and share insights into the outcomes from the Marine Mammal Mitigation & Monitoring Conference which he recently coordinated in Scotland.