Business

Our data and products have been directly applied to businesses related to offshore developments, contributing quality assured, standardised and harmonized marine data towards elements such as environmental impact assessments.

Click on the collapsible headings below to read examples.

  • Building the first submarine electricity interconnection between Spain and France

    Outcomes: Assessments highlighted shallow coastal habitats dominated by Rhodophytes, ascidians and brachiopods to have the highest potential impact from one of four proposals for the laying of electrical cables.

    How EMODnet Seabed Habitats helped the user: Having habitats classified to a community level (i.e. higher up the EUNIS hierarchy) allowed for a more detailed impact assessment to be conducted

    Who used it:

    BIOSFERA XXI – on behalf of the Electricity Network of Spain (Red Eléctrica de España)

    When was it used: 2017

    What product was used: EUSeaMap 2016

    How was the product used:  Habitats under the EUNIS classification system were assessed against four proposed sites for electrical cable lines to be buried, and to identify habitats at greatest risk of impact.  

     

    Read more here (in Spanish)

  • Ecological Impact Assessments – the case for offshore windfarm proposals

    Outcomes: Assessors were able to characterise the benthic ecological resources in the zone of potential impact, providing up-to-date evidence to the consultation and highlighting the significance of impacts of the maximum design scenario. 

    How EMODnet Seabed Habitats helped the user: Broad-scale habitat data and associated environmental variables were available and at full-coverage for the ecology study area, whilst other datasets were limited

    Who used it:

    Orsted Power (UK) Ltd– Hornsea Project Three

    When was it used: 2018

    What product was used: EUSeaMap 2016

    How was the product used: EUNIS habitats were simplified into sub-categories and community types, which then fed into the Ecological Impact Assessment. The assessment focussed on the likely ecological changes through the introduction of artificial structures.

    Read more here

  • Environmental scoping for an electricity interconnector between France and UK

    Outcomes: Assessors were able to conduct a scoping exercise to assess the potential environmental impacts on seabed habitats and begin to consider mitigation measures where appropriate.

    How EMODnet Seabed Habitats helped the user: Broad-scale habitat data that intersected with the Proposed Development were publicly available and at full-coverage

    Who used it:

    AQUIND Limited – Interconnector Project

    When was it used: 2018

    What product was used: EUSeaMap 2016

    How was the product used: A list of EUNIS habitats was generated by overlaying EUSeaMap with the Proposed Development.

     

    Read more here