Light emissions
Light emissions
Various types of light fixtures are attached to offshore wind turbines, substations and vessels. These lights are particularly important for aviation and navigational safety; however, they can potentially interfere with biodiversity receptors by disorienting or attracting species.
Lifecycle phase
Impact
Biodiversity receptor
Measure for wind turbine
Measure for grid
Avoidance or minimisation
Status offshore
Planning
Attraction
Bats
Light design: Avoid non-mandatory lighting, reduce the level of illumination, adjust the colour spectrum of lightening, use of deflectors.
Minimisation
Concept
Planning
Attraction
Birds
Light design: Alter pattern of illumination (flashing rather than steady lights), alter wavelenght of lights, directional intensity/shielding of light, reduce intensity of lights, reduce number of turbines illuminated.
Minimisation
Concept
Planning
Attraction
Birds
Light design: Adjust frequency, colour and wavelength of aviation warning lights.
Minimisation
Concept
Planning
Avoidance and displacement
Marine mammals, sea turtles
Light design options such as start with natural darkness and only add light with specific purposes, using adaptive light controls to manage light timing/intensity/colour, using the lowest light intensity possible, using non reflective, dark coloured surfaces, using filtered light with blue and (ultra)violet wavelenghts, lighting only the object or area intended to avoid light spill.
Minimisation
Concept
Construction
Attraction
Bats, birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, plankton
Light design and timing: Reducing the level of illumination, adjusting the colour spectrum of lighting, using deflectors, reduce the level of light used during night to respect photoperiods
Minimisation
Concept
Operation
Attraction
Bats
Light design: Avoid non-mandatory lighting, reduce the level of illumination, adjust the colour spectrum of lightening, use of deflectors
Minimisation
Concept
Operation
Attraction
Birds, plankton
Light design: Alter pattern of illumination (flashing rather than steady lights), alter wavelenght of lights, directional intensity/shielding of light, reduce intensity of lights, reduce number of turbines illuminated.
Minimisation
Concept
Operation
Avoidance and displacement
Marine mammals, sea turtles
Light design: Light design: Start with natural darkness and only add light with specific purposes, using adaptive light controls to manage light timing/intensity/colour, using the lowest light intensity possible, using non reflective, dark coloured surfaces, using filtered light with blue and (ultra)violet wavelenghts, lighting only the object or area intended to avoid light spill
Minimisation
Concept
End of life
Attraction
Bats, birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, plankton
Light design: Reducing the level of illumination, adjusting the colour spectrum of lighting, using deflectors
Minimisation
Concept
End of life
Attraction
Bats, birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, plankton
Light design and timing: Reduce the level of using light during night to respect photoperiods
Minimisation
Implemented
