Participating in a Project to Advance Environmental Impact Assessments for Offshore Wind Power

― Achieving Both Decarbonization and Nature-Positive Outcomes Through Biologging and Biodiversity Big Data ―

Together with Think Nature Inc. and Koudou Lab, and with Professor Katsufumi Sato of the Institute of Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics at the University of Tokyo serving as an advisor, we have launched a joint project to advance environmental impact assessments for renewable energy development, including offshore wind power.

In this project, we will integrate wildlife behavior and movement data collected using our proprietary bio-logging technology with Think Nature’s biodiversity big data to conduct macroecological analyses that visualize high-resolution, individual-level habitat information.

This will enable a wide-area impact assessment that includes the overlap between offshore wind power facilities and wildlife habitats and activity areas, collision risks such as bird strikes, and cumulative development impacts.

Significance of the Project

Amid growing demands to advance the Green Transformation (GX), implement the National Biodiversity Strategy, and execute the Nature-Positive Economic Transition Strategy, this project offers the following benefits:

・Enhancing the scientific rigor and transparency of the environmental impact assessment system

・Concretization of guidelines for biodiversity considerations in renewable energy deployment

・Providing scientific evidence to support TNFD and ESG assessments

・Providing objective and quantitative data to support local consensus-building

Our Role

For over 10 years, we have supported the development and manufacturing of GPS collars, small loggers, and various sensors, as well as data management, map visualization, alerts, and reporting via the cloud. In this project, we will leverage this expertise to handle everything from the collection of wildlife behavior and movement data to its analysis and visualization.

We will transform the collected data into actionable insights (intelligence) to contribute to the realization of a decarbonized society while achieving nature-positive outcomes.

Future Developments

In the initial phase, we will utilize existing bio-logging data to organize and visualize spatial overlaps with wind power facilities and risks along migration routes. In the medium to long term, we will accumulate insights through pilot projects focused on offshore wind power and advance social implementation with a view toward incorporating these findings into policy design, guideline development, and sustainable investment decisions.

For details, please see the press release below.

Press Release (PR TIMES)

End