Fixed Offshore Wind

Capturing energy from offshore wind with bottom-mounted foundations.

Offshore wind energy technologies harness kinetic energy from the wind to generate energy and transport that energy back to shore via a subsea export cable. The main advantage of offshore wind energy is access to stronger and more consistent winds, allowing for the use of larger turbines. The development of offshore wind in Europe and Asia has preceded development activities in other parts of the world; however, several projects in the United States are currently underway.

There are different types of offshore wind turbine foundation on which the turbine can be installed, depending on the depth and substrate. Gravity foundations are used at shallow depths (0-30m) and consist of large, steel or concrete bases that rest on the seabed. Suction bucket foundations are also made from steel or concrete, and are installed using the pressure difference generated between the inside of the bucket and the water surrounding it (without any use of mechanical force). Monopile foundations are used at shallow depths (0-30 m) and consist of a pile that is driven into the seabed. Monopiles are typically less costly than other foundation types and are the most commonly used. Tripod fixed bottom foundations are used at transitional depths (20-80m) and consist of three legs connecting to a central shaft that supports the turbine base. Each leg has a pile driven into the seabed, which creates a wide foundation that allows for the piles to be placed at a shallower depth in the seabed than monopile foundations. Jacket foundations are also used at transitional depths (20-80m) and feature a lattice framework that comprises three to four anchoring points driven into the seafloor.

The environmental concerns associated with offshore wind farms vary with foundation type. Monopiles, for example, require pile-driving, which produces incredibly loud noises that tend to propagate far in the water, even after mitigation strategies such as bubble shields, slow start, and acoustic cladding are employed. Collision risk with birds and bats is a major concern, though the impact is more difficult to quantify offshore because carcasses that provide evidence of collisions become lost at sea. While the footprint of offshore wind energy is relatively small, it may still cause scouring and changes to sediment transport. As with all electricity generation, there is a slight concern that electromagnetic fields generated by power cables may affect animals that use Earth's natural magnetic field for orientation, navigation, and hunting. Artificial reefing is likely to occur around wind farms as the new hard substrate provides protection and attracts colonizing invertebrates and fish.

Affiliated Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Total results: 3120
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
The environmental impact from an offshore windfarm: Challenge and evaluation methodology based on an ecosystem approach Pezy, J., Raoux, A., Dauvin, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Welfare economics and wicked problems in coastal and marine governance Groeneveld, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Parc Éolien en Mer de Saint Nazaire Banc de Guérande: Étude de l’état de référence halieutique SINAY - Maritime Data Solutions Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Dogger Bank C/Sofia - Onshore Works Application - Environmental Appraisal Dogger Bank Wind Farm Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Environmental impacts of decommissioning: Onshore versus offshore wind farms Hall, R., João, E., Knapp, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Transposition of the directive establishing a framework for maritime spatial planning into the Polish legal order (main aspects and key solutions) Bakowski, T., Nawrot, J. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
A comparative insight of Irish and Scottish regulatory frameworks for offshore wind energy - An expert perspective O'Hanlon, Z., Cummins, V. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Ontogenetic variation in the auditory sensitivity of black sea bass (Centropristis striata) and the implications of anthropogenic sound on behavior and communication Stanley, J., Caiger, P., Phelan, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Pelagic Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Addressing transdisciplinary and participation issues to cope with rapid changes shifting marine social ecological systems Guillotreau, P., Trouillet, B., Mahevas, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Increased Mixing and Turbulence in the Wake of Offshore Wind Farm Foundations Schultze, L., Merckelbach, L., Horstmann, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Physical Environment
Comparative migration ecology of striped bass and Atlantic sturgeon in the US Southern mid-Atlantic bight flyway Rothermel, E., Balazik, M., Best, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance Fish
South Fork Wind Farm COP Appendix N2: South Fork Wind Benthic Habitat Mapping to Support Essential Fish Habitat Consultation INSPIRE Environmental Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Physical Environment
Risk-Based Consenting of Offshore Renewable Energy Projects (RICORE) Bald, J., Menchaca, I., O'Hagan, A. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Integrating Wind Turbines and Fish Farms: An Evaluation of Potential Risks to Marine and Coastal Bird Species Benjamins, S., Masden, E., Collu, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
EU offshore wind farms coexistence with other marine activities Gotziou, M. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Estimating the effects of pile driving sounds on seals: Pitfalls and possibilities Whyte, K., Russell, D., Sparling, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Evaluation of the comprehensive benefit of various marine exploitation activities in China Liu, B., Wang, J., Xu, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Lost (and found) in Transition: Expert stakeholder insights on low-carbon energy transitions in Spain Sorman, A., Garcia-Muros, X., Pizarro-Irizar, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Wind Energy Project: Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Navigation
Assessing Cumulative Exposure of Northern Gannets to Offshore Wind Farms Goodale, M., Milman, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds
South Fork Wind Farm Atlantic Cod Spawning Survey Gervelis, B., Carey, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish
Deep learning–based automatic bird identification system for offshore wind farms Niemi, J., Tanttu, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds
Underwater Noise Emission Due to Offshore Pile Installation: A Review Tsouvalas, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Capturing threshold responses of marine benthos along gradients of natural and anthropogenic change Couce, E., Engelhard, G., Schratzberger, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Physical Environment
Activity-footprints, pressures-footprints and effects-footprints-Walking the pathway to determining and managing human impacts in the sea Elliott, M., Borja, A., Cormier, R. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions
Isotopic analyses, a good tool to validate models in the context of Marine Renewable Energy development and cumulative impacts Raoux, A., Pezy, J., Ernande, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes
Prediction and measurement of high intensity bird migration using meteorological radar data in Eemshaven windpark Shinneman, S., van Loon, E., Wijers, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Birds
Annual environmental report 2019 – Belwind Belwind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Navigation
Nobelwind Offshore Energy: Annual Work Report 2019 Nobelwind Offshore Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Guidelines for Providing Avian Survey Information for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Guidance Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Impact of Offshore Wind Farms on Marine Ecosystems, Pelagic Species and Fishing Negro, V., del Campo, J., Luengo Frades, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Displacement Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Pelagic Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Recreation & Tourism
Global Research and Trends in Renewable Energy: Ocean Waves, Tidal Energy and Offshore Wind Cui, Y., Xu, D., Liu, Z. Journal Article Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Assessing Potential Impacts of Offshore Wind Facilities on Regional Sea Scallop Laval and Early Juvenile Transports Chen, C., Zhao, L., He, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates
On the food-web ecology of offshore wind farms, the kingdom of suspension feeders Mavraki, N. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates
Survival rates of birds for use in population models Collier, M., Courtens, W., van Daele, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds
Using Artificial-Reef Knowledge to Enhance the Ecological Function of Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations: Implications for Fish Abundance and Diversity Glarou, M., Zrust, M., Svendsen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Challenges and Recommendations for Environmental Compliance for Marine Renewable Energy: Avoiding Issues Early for Efficient Permitting and Practicable Mitigation Courbis, S. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
The implications of landscape visual impact on future highly renewable power systems: a case study for Great Britain Price, J., Mainzer, K., Petrovic, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Visual Impacts
Highly Migratory Species Report 2020, Vineyard Wind Kneebone, J., Capizzano, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Structure in a sea of sand: fish abundance in relation to man-made structures in the North Sea Wright, S., Lynam, C., Righton, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish
Displaying 1041 - 1080 of 3120 results