Renewable energy assessments – windfarms

North Barker are Tasmania’s leading ecological consultants in relation to the assessment of renewable energy projects, particularly in relation to large-scale wind energy projects in onshore and offshore environments.

For terrestrial (onshore) projects we have completed several long-term bird utilisation surveys (density estimates, usage patterns, flight profiles), general natural values assessments (including bats), eagle nest searches, collision risk modelling, and targeted surveys and impact assessments for a variety of threatened values (cetaceans, butterflies, grasshoppers, New Holland mouse, Miena jewel beetle, orchids, threatened vegetation, and various avifauna including owls and seabirds).

We are experienced in guiding such projects from the planning and risk reduction phase all the way through to approvals, including various requirements along different assessment pathways, such as referral submission and assessment of controlled actions under the EPBCA, and technical contributions to EIS and MPIS within state approvals pathways, such as level 2 assessments under EMPCA through the EPA, and the major projects pathway through the TPC.

In the offshore space we have a team of specialist seabird surveyors and certified marine mammal observers (JNCC) suitable for offshore renewable energy assessments and equivalent marine surveys. We are also members of the NOPSEMA consulting panel formed to provide technical advice to inform assessment and decision-making processes in relation to offshore energy projects and strategic marine projects.

We are experienced in dealing with the variety of natural values constraints that face renewables projects and able to support clients in developing appropriate and meaningful mitigation measures once avoidance opportunities have been exhausted. Examples of mitigation that we have instigated include turbine design and placement, physical offsets (with associated management plans), habitat creation and restoration, translocations, and use of automatic curtailment systems supported by species identification and tracking.