Recommendations for the chemical risk assessment of cathodic protection systems in the marine environment

Dussauze, M.; Caplat, C. (2025). Recommendations for the chemical risk assessment of cathodic protection systems in the marine environment. Report by France Energies Marines. Report for France Energies Marines.

@techreport{Dussauze-2025-2114708,
author = {Dussauze, M and Caplat, C},
title = {Recommendations for the chemical risk assessment of cathodic protection systems in the marine environment},
institution = {France Energies Marines},
year = {2025},
month = {dec},
address = {Plouzané, France},
url = {https://www.france-energies-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ECOCAP-recommendation-report-cathodic-protection-systems.pdf},
keywords = {Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Chemicals, Physical Environment, Water Quality},
}

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TY - RPRT
TI - Recommendations for the chemical risk assessment of cathodic protection systems in the marine environment
AU - Dussauze, M
AU - Caplat, C
AB - Offshore wind has rapidly become one of the most dynamic technologies in the global energy mix. Starting with 3 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in 2010, Europe has added 3.8 GW of new offshore wind capacity by 2023. This growth is in line with the EU’s regional offshore energy targets (excluding the UK) of around 111 GW of cumulative capacity by 2030 and 317 GW by 2050 (European Commission, 2023). In France, the first offshore wind farm (OWF) began operations in 2022, followed by the inauguration of two additional OWFs in 2023. These developments have brought the total nominal capacity of offshore renewable energy (ORE) in France to just under 1.5 GW. Additionally, 1.5 GW is currently under construction, and 1.85 GW has been awarded. The market is growing rapidly, with development prospects accelerating. The French “Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie” target up to 10 GW by 2035. In the context of massive deployment of ORE in France, the potential impact of cathodic protections (CP) was highlighted as an environmental concern due to the chronic release of chemicals in the water column. Based on this issue, the ECOCAP R&D project, was launched in 2021 and completed in 2024. It has produced a knowledge base to enhance the definition of environmental pressures and potential associated impacts related to the chronic releases of elements from galvanic anode (GACP) and impressed current (ICCP) cathodic protections. This document synthesises the results obtained in the ECOCAP project by producing a report with conclusions and recommendations addressed to offshore wind stakeholders. Based on bibliographic analysis, experimental ecotoxicological results (Blanc-Legendre et al., 2025) and assessment of the risk of elemental contamination (i.e. metals and ICCP compounds) to the environment, the recommendations report also propose, where appropriate, adapted protocols for environmental water quality monitoring.
CY - Plouzané, France
DA - 2025/12//
PY - 2025
SP - 24
PB - France Energies Marines
UR - https://www.france-energies-marines.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ECOCAP-recommendation-report-cathodic-protection-systems.pdf
LA - English
KW - Wind Energy
KW - Fixed Offshore Wind
KW - Chemicals
KW - Physical Environment
KW - Water Quality
ER -

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Abstract

Offshore wind has rapidly become one of the most dynamic technologies in the global energy mix. Starting with 3 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in 2010, Europe has added 3.8 GW of new offshore wind capacity by 2023. This growth is in line with the EU’s regional offshore energy targets (excluding the UK) of around 111 GW of cumulative capacity by 2030 and 317 GW by 2050 (European Commission, 2023). In France, the first offshore wind farm (OWF) began operations in 2022, followed by the inauguration of two additional OWFs in 2023. These developments have brought the total nominal capacity of offshore renewable energy (ORE) in France to just under 1.5 GW. Additionally, 1.5 GW is currently under construction, and 1.85 GW has been awarded. The market is growing rapidly, with development prospects accelerating. The French “Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie” target up to 10 GW by 2035. In the context of massive deployment of ORE in France, the potential impact of cathodic protections (CP) was highlighted as an environmental concern due to the chronic release of chemicals in the water column. Based on this issue, the ECOCAP R&D project, was launched in 2021 and completed in 2024. It has produced a knowledge base to enhance the definition of environmental pressures and potential associated impacts related to the chronic releases of elements from galvanic anode (GACP) and impressed current (ICCP) cathodic protections. This document synthesises the results obtained in the ECOCAP project by producing a report with conclusions and recommendations addressed to offshore wind stakeholders. Based on bibliographic analysis, experimental ecotoxicological results (Blanc-Legendre et al., 2025) and assessment of the risk of elemental contamination (i.e. metals and ICCP compounds) to the environment, the recommendations report also propose, where appropriate, adapted protocols for environmental water quality monitoring.