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<p>The Planning Inspectorate is responsible for examining development consent applications
for nationally significant infrastructure projects, including offshore renewable energy
installations over 100MW in English and Welsh waters and their adjacent offshore waters,
and then making a recommendation to the Secretary of State at Department for Energy
and Climate Change (DECC) for the final decision.</p><p>As part of the planning process,
the environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy installations are considered
through the requirement to undertake project level Environmental Impact Assessments
(EIAs) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRAs). In order to improve the evidence
on the extent of the environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy installations,
the Offshore Renewables Joint Industry Programme (ORJIP) was initiated by DECC, Marine
Scotland and The Crown Estate. ORJIP includes a longer-term project to improve empirical
evidence on the impacts of offshore renewables on marine species, such as birds and
marine mammals. Further information is available at <a href="http://www.carbontrust.com/client-services/technology/innovation/offshore-renewables-joint-industry-programme-orjip/"
target="_blank">http://www.carbontrust.com/client-services/technology/innovation/offshore-renewables-joint-industry-programme-orjip/</a>.</p>
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