The Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) for Offshore Wind is a collaborative initiative that aims to:
- fund research to improve our understanding of the effects of offshore wind on the marine environment
- reduce the risk of not getting or delaying consent for offshore wind developments
- reduce the risk of getting consent with conditions that reduce viability of the project
The programme pools resources from the private sector and public sector bodies to fund projects that provide empirical data to support consenting authorities in evaluating the environmental risk of offshore wind. Projects are prioritised and informed by the ORJIP Advisory Network that includes key stakeholders such as statutory nature conservation bodies, academics, non-governmental organisations and others.
ORJIP projects focus on priority consenting risks in the UK, with learnings applicable to other geographies.
Stage 1
Stage 1 of the programme ran from 2012 to 2018 and was managed by the Carbon Trust and funded by The Crown Estate, Marine Scotland and Crown Estate Scotland, with additional developer funding for individual projects. Major studies included an investigation into the efficacy of acoustic deterrent devices on different marine mammals and a pioneering, two-year study to record and quantify the avoidance behaviour of seabirds around offshore wind farms.
Stage 2
Stage 2 was launched in 2019 and will run until 2025. In total, 14 projects have been funded across three phases in ORJIP Stage 2, each with a project expert panel (PEP) of key industry stakeholders to support project scoping and delivery.
Major studies include the development of a simulation model to assess seabird survival during the non-breeding season, improvements to underwater noise impact assessments, and enhancements to seabird sensitivity mapping tools
Contact us
To find out more contact ORJIP@carbontrust.com
