Skip to main content

Fixed Offshore Wind

Fixed Offshore Wind Energy Foundation Types
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: 3868

Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Offshore Wind Energy in Europe— A Review of the State-of-the-Art Henderson, A., Morgan, C., Smith, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision, Noise Birds, Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Movements of Seals from Rødsand Seal Sanctuary Monitored by Satellite Telemetry Dietz, R., Teilmann, J., Henriksen, O. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals
Offshore Wind Farms in the Western Great Lakes: An Interdisciplinary Analysis of their Potential Hingtgen, J. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Thermal Animal Detection System (TADS): Development of a Method for Estimating Collision Frequency of Migrating Birds at Offshore Wind Turbines Desholm, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Collision Waterfowl, Seabirds, Passerines, Birds
Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west European waters Reid, J., Evans, P., Northridge, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals
Horns Rev 1 Vestas Wind Systems A/S Project Site Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Renewable Energy from the Ocean Pelc, R., Fujita, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy
Cost Benefit Analysis of Government Support Options for Offshore Wind Energy Cleirigh, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Future Offshore: A Strategic Framework for the Offshore Wind Industry UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Elsam. Offshore Wind Farm. Horns Rev. Annual status report for the environmental monitoring programme 1. January 2001 - 31. December 2001 Tech-Wise A/S Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Displacement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Pinnipeds, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Burbo Offshore Wind Farm Volume 2: ES Biological Environment University of Liverpool Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
High Level Environmental Screening Study for Offshore Wind Farm Developments - Marine Habitats and Species Project Hiscock, K., Tyler-Walters, H., Jones, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Technologies and their Influence on Future UK Marine Resource Development and Management Side, J., Jowitt, P. Journal Article Wind Energy, Wave, Fixed Offshore Wind, Marine Energy Human Dimensions
Postdevelopment Experiments to Detect Anthropogenic Disturbances: The Case of Sea Ducks and Wind Parks Guillemette, M., Larsen, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Waterfowl, Birds
The Role of the DPSIR Approach and Conceptual Models in Marine Environmental Management: An Example for Offshore Wind Power Elliott, M. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Legal & Policy, Human Dimensions
Robin Rigg Environmental Statement Natural Power Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Fish, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions
Predicting the Displacement of Common Scoter Melanitta nigra from Benthic Feeding Areas Due to Offshore Windfarms Kaiser, M., Elliott, A., Galanidi, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Waterfowl
Possible Effects of the Offshore Wind Farm at Vindeby on the Outcome of Fishing Engell-Sørensen, K. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries
Rhyl Flats Environmental Impact Assessment Anatec, Binnie, Black and Veatch, Cousins Environmental Consultants Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Potential Effects of Offshore Wind Developments on Coastal Processes Beiboer, F., Cooper, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow Sediment Transport, Physical Environment
Open Ocean Aquaculture and Offshore Wind Farms. A feasibility study on the multifunctional use of offshore wind farms and offshore mariculture in the North Sea area Buck, B. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Social & Economic Data
Recommendations for project-related studies of possible impacts of marine wind farms during construction and operation on birds Hüppop, O., Exo, K., Garthe, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds
Gunfleet Sands Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Statement GE Wind Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
The Potential Effects of Electromagnetic Fields Generated by Cabling Between Offshore Wind Turbines upon Elasmobranch Fishes Gill, A., Taylor, H. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Demersal Fish
Acoustic and Electromagnetic Noise Induced by Wind Mills - Implications for Underwater Surveillance Systems Pilot Study Fristedt, T., Morén, P., Söderberg, P. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise, EMF
Life Cycle Assessment of a 150 MW Offshore Wind Turbine Farm at Nysted/Roedsand, Denmark Properzi, S., Herk-Hansen, H. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Life Cycle Assessment for Wind Turbines Hassing, H. Conference Paper Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Environmental Consequences of Offshore Wind Power Generation Parkinson, K. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Assessment of the Effects of Offshore Wind in Birds Percival, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Waterfowl
Scroby Sands Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Statement PowerGen Renewables Development Limited (PRDL) Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind
Assessment Of The Effects Of Noise And Vibration From Offshore Wind Farms On Marine Wildlife Vella, G., Rushforth, I., Mason, E. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise Fish, Marine Mammals
Noise Measurements and Analysis: Offshore Pile-Driving Underwater and Above-Water Maxon, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Effects of Marine Windfarms on the Distribution of Fish, Shellfish and Marine Mammals in the Horns Rev Area Hoffmann, E., Astrup, J., Larsen, F. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise, Habitat Change, EMF, Avoidance, Attraction Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals, Invertebrates, Fish
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment: Summary of EIA Report Elsamprojekt Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Ecosystem Processes, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Horns Rev Offshore Wind Farm Environmental Impact Assessment of Sea Bottom and Marine Biology Leonhard, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Chemicals, Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Underwater Noise Measurements, Analysis, and Predictions Degn, U. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Noise
Effects on Birds of an Offshore Wind Park at Horns Rev: Environmental Impact Assessment Noer, H., Christensen, T., Clausager, I. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Raptors, Seabirds, Waterfowl, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Horns Rev Wind Power Plant Environmental impact assessment of hydrography Edelvang, K., Møller, A., Steenberg, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Habitat Change Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment
Nocturnal flight activity of sea ducks near the windfarm Tunø Knob in the Kattegat Tulp, I., Schekkerman, H., Larsen, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Waterfowl
Windpower and Grey Seals: An Impact Assessment of Potential Effects by Sea-Based Windpower Plants on a Local Seal Population Sundberg, J., Söderman, M. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Pinnipeds, Marine Mammals

Displaying 3801 - 3840 of 3868 results