The Research Advisory Group (RAG) was created by the Department of Trade and Industry as a pan-government body to facilitate a co-ordinated approach among the regulatory and funding bodies to address the key impact issues of Round 2 wind farm proposals. RAG meets 3 to 4 times a year and is chaired by the DTI. The DTI has allocated an initial programme budget of up to £2.5 million for offshore windfarm issues. The remit of RAG has now been extended to gain further understanding on the potential impacts of wave & tidal power generation. DTI has now allocated a budget of up to £2 million to concentrate on these emerging technologies.RAG collated a list of the potential environmental issues in relation to offshore windfarms and prioritised them with input from other stakeholder groups. The research topics have been grouped into themes and each assigned a Theme Leader. This list of potential projects is reviewed and updated and the latest version can be found via the link below.

RAG has taken forward and funded a number of these projects. Details of projects underway and completed in each theme can also be found through the links below.

Terms of reference and organisation

Notes of Meetings

Birds: Projects underway & completed

Marine mammals: Projects underway & completed

Seascape: Projects underway & completed

Fish & Benthos: Projects underway & completed

Seabed & coastal processes: Projects underway & completed

Navigation: Projects underway & completed

Potential research projects

For any further information, please contact Angela Wratten