Abstract

GIS Aids Strategic Planning for UK Offshore Windfarms
Track: Ocean, Coastal, and Marine Resources
Author(s): Stephen King

Renewable energy is central to the UK Government's aim of reducing CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050. A key target is for 10% of electricity to come from renewables by 2010. Offshore wind in the UK is a major energy resource and two rounds of seabed leasing carried out in 2000 and 2003 lead to the award of some 33 leases for windfarm development, with 5 sites already producing electricity. This paper describes how ArcGIS has been used to explore possible environmental and socio-economic constraints to a further round of windfarm development in UK waters. Spatial analysis has provided a visual and quantitative indication of the areas which remain available for development after constraints have been applied and the likely energy output available under various technology and constraint scenarios. The work emphasizes the key role GIS can play in marine spatial planning and wider applications including Strategic Environmental Assessment.

Stephen King
Hartley Anderson
Regent House
36 Regent Quay
Aberdeen , Aberdeenshire AB11 5BE
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1224 586658
E-mail: sdk@hartleyanderson.com