A cumulative impact (and their assessment) is a topic which is increasingly raised in environmental impact
assessments and with more and more marine renewable energy applications being submitted, cumulative impacts are key to be given as reasons for the failure of applications, not least due to insufficient analyses. There is great uncertainty surrounding cumulative impact assessment related to both the impacts themselves and to the process of assessment. This uncertainty around the process is driven by the lack of a clear definition of cumulative impacts and a so the fact that few guidelines are available. This project aims to provide a method to quantify some of the uncertainty giving valuable input to the de-risking and acceleration of the marine renewable energy sector As ERI is located in the Highlands and lslands, this particularly benefits the Scottish Government with their objectives of creating a greener and sustainable Scotland.

The success of this project would also provide insight into more suitable and rigorous methods for approaching the analysis of cumulative impacts, which would benefit developers the appropriate authorities/planners and conservation organisations. The identification and development of methods (and guidelines) for cumulative impact assessment would greatly benefit renewable energy developers as an absence of appropriate guidelines and advice has been suggested as a reason for a lack of quality in cumulative impact assessment. Improvement in the quality of assessments and also an increase of clarity would subsequently make it easier for the appropriate authorities/planners to assess the impacts of developments and make a judgement on applications.