ATLANTIC_CH01_Specification_2 / Map of windfarm siting suitability in the area where waters of France and Spain meet in Bay of Biscay on 500 m contour

The three digital maps provided in this product aim to assess the degree of Offshore windfarm siting suitability existing over a geographical area with a focal point where waters of France and Spain meet in Biscay Bay on 500 m depth. The maps display respectively the spatial distribution of the average and lowest windfarm siting suitability scores along with the average wind speed distribution over a time period of 10 years. They are part of a process set up to assess the fit for use quality of the currently available datasets to support a preliminary selection of potential offshore sites for wind energy development.

To build these maps, GIS tools were applied to several key spatial datasets from the 5 data type domains considered in the project: Air, Marine Water, Riverbed/Seabed, Biota/Biology and Human Activities, collated during the initial stages of the project. Initially, each selected dataset was formatted and clipped to the study area extent and spatially classified according to suitability scores, to define raster layers with the variables depicting levels of current anthropogenic and environmental spatial occupation of activities, seabed depth and slope, distances to shoreline, shipping intensity, mean significant wave height, and substrate type. These pre-processed layers were employed as inputs for applying a spatial multi-criteria model using a wind farming suitability classification based on a discrete 5 grades index, ranging from Very Low up to Very High suitability. In adition to suitability maps, an average wind speed spatial distribution map for a 10 years period, at 10 m height, was obtained over the study area from the raster processing of a wind speed time series of monthly means available from daily wind analysis data. The characteristics of the datasets used in this exercise underwent an appropriateness evaluation procedure based on a comparison between their measured quality and those specified for the product. The study area, located in the Biscay Golf includes a coastal zone of Spain and France. Consequently, some zones are subject to constraints to offshore windfarm implementation due to environmental protection, visual impacts and seafoor attributes. Data gaps exist with an emphasis on fishing activity and distribution of essential habitats and species.

All the spatial information made available in these maps and from the subsequent appropriateness analysis of the datasets, contributes to a clearer overview of the amount of public-access baseline knowledge currently existing for the North Atlantic basin area.

 

Simple

Identification info

Date (Creation)
2017-08-29T00:00:00
Issue identification

Not Applicable

Purpose

To determine the suitability of a site where waters of France and Spain meet in Bay of Biscay on 500 m contour for offshore wind farm development, to evidence the fitness for use of the current available marine datasets, as well as to point out gaps in the current Emodnet data collection framework.

Point of contact
Organisation Individual Electronic mail address ORCID Role

Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA)

victorh@ipma.pt

 Point of contact
Spatial representation type
Grid
Topic category
  • Oceans

Extent

N
S
E
W


Extent

Time period
2006-01-01 2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
10
Maximum value
10
Validation

  • Approved

Used by challenges

  • Atlantic - CH01 - Windfarm Siting

Processing level of characteristics

  • High level analyzed

Production mode

  • Delayed

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0

  • Energy resources

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Distribution Information

Distribution format

  • ESRI Raster

- Seabed depth

N
S
E
W
 

- Wave-induced water motion

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31
 

- Wind speed

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
10
Maximum value
150
 

- Essential Seabed habitats

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Essential Fish habitats

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Seabed substrate

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Coastline

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Fisheries spatial occupation

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- MPA Network

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Vessel Traffic Density

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Submarine cables

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Offshore Installations

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- limits of IBA sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Ports location

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Dredging sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Aggregate Extraction sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Munition sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Dredge spoil sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Cables and pipelines

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Offshore activities sites

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

- Natura2000 spatial extent

N
S
E
W
Begin date
2006-01-01
End date
2015-12-31

Vertical element

Minimum value
0
Maximum value
0
 

Reference System Information

Reference system identifier
http://www.opengis.net/def/crs/EPSG/0/4326

Metadata

Metadata identifier
urn:uuid/d65b9e75-f2ce-4dfc-9a87-0261ebd25a62

Language
English
Character encoding
UTF8

Type of resource

Resource type
Dataset
Metadata linkage

http://localhost:8080/geonetwork/srv/eng//metadata/286d8887-58a5-4562-a0b9-a69b78fced76

Metadata linkage

https://sextant.ifremer.fr/geonetwork/srv/eng//metadata/dbe218e9-9e07-4822-9526-a1ee5a85841c

Date info (Revision)
2018-05-23T09:26:48Z
Date info (Creation)
2005-03-31T19:13:30

Metadata standard

Title

ISO 19115-3 - Emodnet Checkpoint - Data Product Specification

 
 

accessData

 

Spatial extent

Keywords

GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
Energy resources
Processing level of characteristics
High level analyzed
Production mode
Delayed
Used by challenges
Atlantic - CH01 - Windfarm Siting
Validation
Approved