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

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Fixed Offshore Wind.

Total: 3733

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Moray Firth River Ness Missing Salmon Project Ness District Salmon Fishery Board, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance Fish
Noise affects porpoise click detections – the magnitude of the effect depends on logger type and detection filter settings Clausen, K., Tougaard, J., Carstensen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Displacement, Noise Marine Mammals
A review of noise abatement systems for offshore wind farm construction noise, and the potential for their application in Scottish waters Verfuss, U., Sinclair, R., Sparling, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Framework for Assessing Ecological and Cumulative Effects 3.0 for the roll-out of offshore wind energy 2030 Sub-report A: Methods Rijkswaterstaat Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
Nonmarket Valuation of Marine Resources in the Northeast: Implications for Recreational Fisheries Management and Offshore Wind Energy Development Carr-Harris, A. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Visual Impacts
Upscaling positive effects of scour protection in offshore wind farms Coolen, J., Lengkeek, W., van der Have, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates
Visual Impact Assessment for Offshore Wind Farms Along the Cantabrian Coast Lopez-Uriarte, J., Lizcano, P., Manchado, C. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Visual Impacts, Human Dimensions
Wind power: A sustainable way to limit climate change Nikitas, G., Bhattacharya, S., Vimalan, N. Book Chapter Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Moray Firth River Deveron Missing Salmon Project The Deveron, Bogie and Isla Rivers Charitable Trust, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance Fish
Chains of trust: Energy justice, public engagement, and the first offshore wind farm in the United States Dwyer, J., Bidwell, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Moray Firth River Spey Missing Salmon Project Spey Fishery Board, Scottish Centre for Ecology and the Natural Environment, University of Glasgow Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance Fish
The politics of Estonia's offshore wind energy programme: Discourse, power and marine spatial planning Tafon, R., Howarth, D., Griggs, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
An Efficient Model for Offshore Pile Driving Noise Taking Into Account the Hammer Characteristics Klages, E., Von Pein, J., Lippert, S. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
2018 Vineyard Wind Groundfish Bottom Trawl Survey Stokesbury, K., Lowery, T. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Fish
Reconversion of offshore oil and gas platforms into renewable energy sites production: Assessment of different scenarios Leporini, M., Marchetti, B., Corvaro, F. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Common Guillemots and offshore wind farms: an ecological discussion of statistical analyses conducted by Alain Zuur Leopold, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement Birds, Seabirds
Beatrice Decommissioning Programmes: Final Version Repsol Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Biodiversity Characterisation of Fouling Communities and Their Hydrodynamic Consequences on Marine Renewable Energy Infrastructure in the UK Want, A., Harris, R., Porter, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change
Power transmission: Where the offshore wind energy comes home Firestone, J., Bates, A., Prefer, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Addressing conflicting spatial demands in MSP: Considerations for MSP planners Gee, K., Lukic, I., Schultz-Zehden, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Digital Aerial Baseline Survey of Marine Wildlife in Support of Offshore Wind Energy Summary of Fall 2018 Digital Survey #10 Normandeau Associates Inc Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
Collision and displacement vulnerability to offshore wind energy infrastructure among marine birds of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Kelsey, E., Felis, J., Czapanskiy, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement Birds
Ornithological and Marine Fauna Aerial Survey of Lease Area OCSA 0512 Monthly Report: September 2018 Jervis, L., Warford, S., Arundale, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Co-location opportunities for renewable energies and aquaculture facilities in the Canary Archipelago Weiss, C., Ondiviela, B., Guinda, X. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Marine Spatial Planning, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Korean traditional beliefs and renewable energy transitions: Pungsu, shamanism, and the local perception of wind turbines Kim, E., Chung, J., Seo, Y. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions
From identification of compatibilities and conflicts to reaching marine spatial allocation agreements. Review of actions required and relevant tools and processes Kyriazi, Z. 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: August 2018 Jervis, L., Warford, S., Dominguez Alvarez, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project Biological Assessment Vineyard Wind Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Micrometeorological impacts of offshore wind farms as seen in observations and simulations Siedersleben, S., Lundquist, J., Platis, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Physical Environment
Assessment of system effects of large-scale implementation of offshore wind in the southern North Sea Boon, A., Caires, S., Wijnant, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment
Perceptions of Commercial and Recreational Fishers on the Potential Ecological Impacts of the Block Island Wind Farm (US) ten Brink, T., Dalton, T. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Costs and consequences of wind turbine wake effects arising from uncoordinated wind energy development Lundquist, J., DuVivier, K., Kaffine, D. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Land-Based Wind Changes in Flow Social & Economic Data, Human Dimensions
Assessing the Impact of Climate Conditions on Harnessing Coastal (Offshore) Wind Energy Akter, S., Loo, J., Hannan, M. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Is Marine Spatial Planning Enough to Overcome Biological Data Deficiencies? Ryan, K., Danylchuk, A., Jordaan, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
JNCC Report No. 627 Red-Throated Diver Energetics Project 2018 Field Season Report O'Brien, S., Ruffino, L., Lehikoinen, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement Birds, Seabirds
Wave Climate and Coastline Response of the Dutch Coast: Investigating the effect of large-scale offshore wind farm developments in the North Sea Ballas, G. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Physical Environment, Sediment Transport
A fuzzy-MADM based approach for site selection of offshore wind farm in busy waterways in China Wu, B., Yip, T., Xie, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning, Social & Economic Data
Cumulative effects of offshore wind farms: loss of habitat for seabirds van der Wal, J., van Puijenbroek, M., Leopold, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Habitat Change Bats, Birds, Seabirds
Management Objectives and Research Priorities for Fisheries in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island-Massachusetts offshore Wind Energy Area Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Fish, Invertebrates
Bibliographical Atlas of Biofouling Along the French Coasts in the Context of Offshore Renewable Energy Quillienn, N., Lejart, M., Damblans, G. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Invertebrates
Displaying 1921 - 1960 of 3733 results