Abstract
The Offshore Wind farm Egmond aan Zee is the first offshore wind farm project in the Netherlands. In an international context this project is in the forefront of the development of offshore wind energy. The current feasibility of wind farms offshore is enabled by subsidies. To reach a situation where wind energy can compete without additional funding cost reduction is required.
The planning of the OWEZ project was done carefully. Nevertheless it was inevitable to use to a certain extent “on shore” knowledge of effects of wind turbines on the environment. Fundamental knowledge has to be obtained to enable even more environmental friendly designs of offshore wind farms in the future.
Both goals are supported by the NSW-MEP program, part of the OWEZ project. Under this program research will be carried out. The technology research will support cost reduction and efficiency improvement, where the ecology research addresses the local environmental impact above and under the sea surrounding the wind farm.
This presentation provides an overview of the ecology part of the research. A similar presentation is avaliable on the technology part of the research.