As Ireland accelerates its offshore renewable energy ambitions a new initiative is underway to safeguard marine ecosystems from underwater noise pollution, a growing global environmental concern. The Irish Marine Acoustics Platform (IMAP) project was launched in April 2025.

This research is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Marine Institute (MI). IMAP project partners, University College Cork (UCC) and Wind Energy Ireland, representing the Irish wind energy industry, will explore underwater noise pollution around the Irish coast.

Developing offshore renewable energy is critical to cutting carbon emissions, making electricity more affordable and to making Ireland energy independent. But building offshore wind farms creates underwater noise which can potentially have an effect on marine life.

April 2025 - December 2028

Recognising underwater radiated noise (URN) as a potential pollutant, regulators now require noise levels to be measured, managed and mitigated.

To assist this work, this groundbreaking project will establish Ireland’s first systematic underwater acoustic monitoring programme. Annual and seasonal variations in ambient sound levels all around the coast will be systematically recorded using hydrophones.

Using advanced analytics, modelling and data infrastructure, the programme will produce critical scientific evidence to ensure an appropriate balance between developing renewable energy and conserving our marine biodiversity.

For more information, contact us at research@windenergyireland.com or visit our dedicated Wind Energy Ireland Research LinkedIn page.