North Hoyle provides enough clean, green electricity to meet the annual electricity needs of some 40,000 homes.

Before, during and after the construction of the wind farm, comprehensive environmental studies have been carried out, looking at the various different aspects of the environment. Key studies since the wind farm was built have included ornithology, marine & seabed ecology, colonisation of foundation structures, and the effects of the wind farm on navigation systems such as radar.

Baseline Monitoring

The following link is to a document describing the baseline monitoring undertaken to comply with the conditions of the Food and Environmental Protection Act (FEPA) for the North Hoyle project.

1. Baseline Monitoring

Construction Period Monitoring

The following links are to separate chapters within the overall document describing the FEPA monitoring undertaken during 2003-4.

1. Executive summary and contents
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. Marine Sediments
5. Benthic Organisms
6. Intertidal Organisms
7. Marine Fish
8. Electromagnetic Fields
9. Underwater Noise & Vibration
10. Ornithology
11. Additional Agreements & References

The colonisation study indicates that the presence of the structures has encouraged marine life into the area – the picture below, of a turbine foundation, was taken just a year after construction of the wind farm, showing spectacular results!

Post Construction Monitoring

The following links are to separate chapters within the overall document describing the FEPA monitoring undertaken during 2004-5

1. Executive summary and contents
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. Marine Sediments
5. Benthic Organisms
6. Intertidal Organisms
7. Marine Fish
8. Electromagnetic Fields
9. Underwater Noise & Vibration
10. Ornithology
11. Additional Agreements & References

The following links are to separate chapters within the overall document describing the FEPA monitoring undertaken during 2005-06

1. Executive summary and contents
2. Introduction
3. Background
4. Marine Sediments
5. Benthic Organisms
6. Intertidal Organisms
7. Marine Fish
8. Electromagnetic Fields
9. Underwater Noise & Vibration
10. Ornithology
11. Marine Mammals
12. References

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