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.

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents Related to Fixed Offshore Wind

Total results: 3197
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
The Marine Strategy Framework Directive, Marine Spatial Planning and Marine Renewables: Linking Concepts for Implementation. A Case Study from Scotland MacDonald, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Oceanographic and biological influences on recruitment of benthic invertebrates to hard substrata on the Oregon shelf Meyer, K., Li, Y., Young, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
A call for a blue degrowth: Unravelling the European Union's fisheries and maritime policies Hadjimichael, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Icebreaker Wind Aerial Survey Waterbird Report Stucker, J., Carlisle, J., Pham, D. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds, Waterfowl
Precipitation reduction during Hurricane Harvey with simulated offshore wind farms Pan, Y., Yan, C., Archer, C. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Physical Environment
Improving the coexistence of offshore wind farms and shipping: an international comparison of navigational risk assessment processes Mehdi, R., Schröder-Hinrichs, J., van Overloop, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Navigation
Benthic biodiversity on old platforms, young wind farms, and rocky reefs Coolen, J., van der Weide, B., Cuperus, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Numerical study of multi-scale flow-sediment-structure interactions using a multiphase approach Nagel, T. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Sediment Transport, Physical Environment
The social dynamics of turbine tourism and recreation: Introducing a mixed-method approach to the study of the first U.S. offshore wind farm Smith, H., Smythe, T., Moore, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Recreation & Tourism
Environmental benefits of leaving offshore infrastructure in the ocean Fowler, A., Jørgensen, A., Svendsen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Nobelwind Offshore Energy: Annual Work Report 2017 Nobelwind Offshore Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
The influence of regulatory framework on environmental impact assessment in the development of offshore wind farms in Spain: Issues, challenges and solutions Salvador, S., Gimeno, L., Larruga, F. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Digital Aerial Baseline Survey of Marine Wildlife in Support of Offshore Wind Energy Winter 2017–2018 Target Extraction Summary Report Normandeau Associates Inc Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
Zooplankton Community Responses and the Relation to Environmental Factors from Established Offshore Wind Farms within the Rudong Coastal Area of China Wang, T., Yu, W., Zou, X. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Water Quality, Physical Environment, Ecosystem Processes
Anthropogenic disturbance facilitates a non-native species on offshore oil platforms Viola, S., Page, H., Zaleski, S. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Resolving environmental effects of wind energy Sinclair, K., Copping, A., May, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals
Ornithological and Marine Fauna Aerial Survey Results of Lease Area OCS-A 0512 Equinor Quarterly Report: February 2018 to April 2018 Jervis, L., Warford, S., Willmott, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Fish, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Positive energies? An empirical study of community energy participation and attitudes to renewable energy Bauwens, T., Devine-Wright, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Stakeholder Engagement, Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions
Imbalances in interaction for transboundary marine spatial planning: Insights from the Baltic Sea Region Janßen, H., Varjopuro, R., Luttmann, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Marine Spatial Planning, Human Dimensions
Ornithological and Marine Fauna Aerial Survey of Lease Area OCSA 0512 Monthly Report: April 2018 Jervis, L., Warford, S., Goddard, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Natural variability of turbulence and stratification in a tidal shelf sea and the possible impact of offshore wind farms Schultze, V. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Water Quality
Contributions of marine infrastructures to marine planning and protected area networking Shabtay, A., Portman, M., Carmel, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Habitat Change Marine Spatial Planning, Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
South Fork Wind Farm COP Appendix Q: Avian and Bat Risk Assessment Stantec Consulting Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Seabirds
The place of the Rochdale envelope approach in offshore renewable energy Caine, C. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Effects of wind farms on the spatial distribution of Guillemots Zuur, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds
Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm, Environmental Statement Volume 2, Chapter 15: Offshore Conclusions GoBe Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
2018 State of the Sector Report: Marine Renewable Energy in Canada Marine Renewables Canada Report Wind Energy, Wave, Tidal, Riverine, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy
Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm, Environmental Statement Volume 2, Chapter 5: Benthic Subtidal and Intertidal Ecology GoBe Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Effect of pile-driving sounds on harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) hearing Kastelein, R., Helder-Hoek, L., Kommeren, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Ornithological and Marine Fauna Aerial Survey of Lease Area OCSA 0512 Monthly Report: March 2018 Jervis, L., Warford, S., Goddard, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Digital Aerial Baseline Survey of Marine Wildlife in Support of Offshore Wind Energy Winter 2017-2018 Taxonomic Analysis Summary Report Normandeau Associates Inc Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
Wind in the sails or choppy seas?: People-place relations, aesthetics and public support for the United States’ first offshore wind project Firestone, J., Bidwell, D., Gardner, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Visual Impacts, Human Dimensions
Thanet Extension Offshore Wind Farm, Environmental Statement Volume 2, Chapter 7: Marine Mammals SMRU Consulting Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
The large-scale impact of offshore wind farm structures on pelagic primary productivity in the southern North Sea Slavik, K., Lemmen, C., Zhang, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates
Disturbance of harbour porpoises during construction of the first seven offshore wind farms in Germany Brandt, M., Dragon, A., Diederichs, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Noise Marine Mammals
Marine Biodiversity and the Development of a North Sea Offshore Powerhouse van Steen, H., Buseman, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions
Changes in European wind energy generation potential within a 1.5 °C warmer world Hosking, J., MacLeod, D., Phillips, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Field validation of radar systems for monitoring bird migration Nilsson, C., Dokter, A., Schmid, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Bats, Birds
A portfolio model for siting offshore wind farms with economic and environmental objectives Cranmer, A., Baker, E., Liesiö, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Ecosystem Processes
Inventory and assessment of models and methods used for describing quantifying and assessing cumulative effects of offshore wind farms van Oostveen, M., Sierdsma, F., Kwakkel, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Seabirds, Marine Mammals, Pinnipeds
Displaying 1561 - 1600 of 3197 results