Abstract
Context
Australia will likely host new commercial offshore wind farm (OWF) developments, including possible floating turbines off the coast of New South Wales (NSW). However, early planning has already resulted in strong community opposition, largely because of perceived negative environmental impacts.
Aims
This review provides a summary of research to inform the potential environmental impacts of floating OWFs in the waters around Australia, using NSW as a case study.
Methods
We review information on regional environmental baselines for key receptors and characterise how environmental impact pathways identified by the Australian Government may apply to floating OWFs.
Key results
Environmental impacts depend on many factors, including OWF characteristics and species and ecosystem traits. Some developments will need floating platforms, which have potentially different environmental impacts from those of bottom-fixed foundations predominately used overseas and planned elsewhere in Australia, particularly related to seabed disturbance, entanglement, underwater noise and barrier effects.
Conclusions
The greatest challenge to impact assessment in Australia is the scarcity of local environmental information, particularly regarding species distributions and ecosystem functions in deeper marine environments where floating OWF development may occur.
Implications
This review provides a first step for various sectors to understand the potential environmental impacts of floating OWF in Australia.