Irish award contract for AMETS bird surveys

The Sustainable Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has appointed EcoEireann to carry out bird surveying services at the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS).

Under the two-year contract, EcoEireann will provide a desk-based analysis review of all available data for the AMETS project, validating the existing data, and the use of survey techniques to collect new data.

The collection and collation of the data will be used in the preparation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report required to facilitate the deployment of a floating offshore wind turbine and other future projects for the test site.

In March last year, a consortium led by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) secured funding to test Saipem’s floating wind technology at AMETS.

The EUR 31 million Accelerating Market Uptake of Floating Offshore Wind Technology (AFLOWT) project is expected to demonstrate the survivability and cost-competitiveness of floating offshore wind. Deployment is planned for 2022.