Floating Offshore Wind

Capturing energy from offshore wind using floating 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. Several floating offshore wind energy demonstrations exist throughout the world, but the technology is yet to be widely deployed.

Floating foundations are used at deep depths (40->1000m) and consist of a balanced floating substructure moored to the seabed with fixed cables. The substructure may be stabilized using buoyancy, mooring lines, or a ballast. Several designs for floating offshore wind substructures currently exist for various depth ranges, including barges, semi-submersibles, tension leg platforms, and single point anchorage buoys. These substructures are connected to one another via inter-array cables, which transport electricity generated from the turbine to floating offshore substations. High voltage export cables then transport the energy to shore. To better understand floating offshore wind, explore these videos from RWE.

The environmental concerns associated with offshore wind farms vary with foundation type. In general, 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. 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. Although pile driving is one of the main concerns surrounding fixed offshore wind energy, floating projects can be constructed onshore and transported out to sea, reducing the impacts from construction-related noise and vessels. Floating foundation’s mooring lines may cause minor scouring or pose a risk of collision or entrapment, but the turbine foundation is mostly located in the upper layer of the water column where there tend to be less organisms.

Photo Credit: Joshua Bauer, NREL

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 Floating Offshore Wind.

Total: 723

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Three-dimensional spatial planning of collection systems in floating offshore wind farms: A two-stage optimization method Tao, S., Yang, J., Zheng, G. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Comparative analysis of onshore, offshore, and floating wind turbines for renewable energy systems: A review Koondhar, M., Albsha, L., Mahmoud, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Geospatial analysis of the life cycle global warming impacts from marine renewables Engelfried, T., Alday, M., Raghavan, V. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Effects of electromagnetic fields on flatfish activity levels Chapman, E., Rochas, C., Burns, Z. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind EMF Fish, Demersal Fish
Balancing wind energy expansion and fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea: A trait-based assessment of vulnerability to floating offshore wind farms for commercially important species Wawrzynkowski, P., Sabatés, A., Lloret, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, EMF, Entanglement, Lighting, Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Environmental licensing of wind farms in the Global North and South: A review of guidelines and new proposals Santos, V., Cavalcante, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Strengthening Offshore Wind Community Engagement: Recommendations for State Agencies Clean Energy States Alliance, Equinval Partners Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Progressing the Floating Offshore Wind Opportunity Quinn, T., Rees, M., MacDonald, A. Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Projected changes to the extent and seasonality of seabird habitat in the California current and implications for marine spatial planning Gasbarro, R., Ainley, D., Andrews, K. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Offshore wind farms and marine protected areas in European waters: Better apart than together Lloret, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
Case-dependent impacts of offshore wind farms on ecosystems: A systematic review and meta-analysis Thomassen, J., Brown, E., Henriksen, O. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals
Environmental considerations related to floating offshore wind farms: a case study from waters around New South Wales, Australia Przeslawski, R., Carlile, N., Carroll, A. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind
Booklet on MARINEWIND Recommendations MARINEWIND Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Towards an ecosystem approach to a simulated floating wind farm combined with climate change in the Bay of Biscay (France) Merchand, M., Lasram, F., Araignous, E. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Habitat Change Ecosystem Processes, Fish
Oceanographic HF Radar Data Preservation in Wind Turbine Trockel, J., Trockel, D., Whelan, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Navigation
Nova Scotia says offshore wind could provide 27% of Canada’s electricity Dodge, D. , Obermann, E. Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
Life Cycle Assessment of co-located floating offshore wind and wave energy technologies in Portugal Bastos, P., Breyer, C., Kluge, S. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Environmental Risks and Impacts of Offshore Energy: A Literature Review Pontinha, D., Bispo, L., Gervásio, H. Conference Paper Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Marine Spatial Planning
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Summary report of focused group workshop (D04b) Hague, A., Couto, A., Miller, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Recommendations and roadmap (D05) Jones, E., Hague, A., Booth, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Untangling the way forward for responsible offshore wind energy: Recommendations to reduce marine life entanglement risks Gutierrez, I, Kershaw, F, Loomis, B Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Entanglement Marine Mammals, Cetaceans, Reptiles, Sea Turtles
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Summary report Stakeholder interviews (D04a) Hague, A., Skeate, E., Miller, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Ecological impacts of floating offshore wind on marine mammals and associated trophic interactions: current evidence and knowledge gaps Harris, C., Benjamins, S., Scott, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Noise, Vessel Strike Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Marine Mammals
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Evidence bridges- Marine mammal case study (D08) Booth, C., Sparling, C., Hastie, G. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
Evidence review of harbour porpoise disturbance ranges in the context of the assessment and management of impulsive noise in Special Areas of Conservation: impact piling Brown, A., Majewska, K., Benhemma-Le Gall, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Noise Marine Mammals, Cetaceans
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Synthesis of evidence (D01) Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Skeate, E.R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
A Review Concerning the Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Potential in the Black Sea Silion, A., Rusu, L. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind
Integration of Environmental Impact Metrics into Wind Farm Design, Analysis and Optimization Pal, R. Thesis Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Life Cycle Assessment
Revised Marine Bird Collision and Displacement Vulnerability Index for U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Wind Energy Development Kelsey, E., Felis, J., Pereksta, D. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Collision, Displacement Birds
Spatio-temporal evolution and engineering implications of biofouling communities on floating wind turbines mooring lines Dubois, A., Schoefs, F., Cognie, B. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Invertebrates
Offshore Wind R&D Priorities Roadmap Nova Scotia Offshore Wind R&D Program Net Zero Atlantic, Nova Scotia Department of Energy Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Stakeholder Engagement
A global review of Procellariiform flight height, flight speed and nocturnal activity: Implications for offshore wind farm collision risk Miller, M., Petrovic, S., Clarke, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Environmental Monitoring & Faster Consenting for Offshore Wind Quinn, T., Rees, M., Whalley, C. Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Focal Fisheries Requirements for Floating Offshore Wind Co-Design in the Gulf of Maine and the Mid-Atlantic Bight Rzeszowski, E., Brady, D., Pol, M. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Stakeholder Engagement
Floating Offshore Wind Farms Attract Japanese Horse Mackerel Tsuchida, S., Kato, R., Nishitsuji, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Attraction Fish
A flexible framework for species based regional cumulative effects assessments to support offshore wind energy planning and management Ferguson, M., Williams, K., Goodale, W. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions
Seabirds in 3D: A Framework to Evaluate Collision Vulnerability with Future Offshore Wind Developments [Final Report] Wallach, E., Chamberlin, C., Jacobson, A. Report Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Collision Birds, Seabirds
Global Offshore Wind Report 2025 Williams, R., Zhao, F., Melkonyan, N. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Towards a Synergistic Multi-Use in the North Sea Satish, A., Respinis, M., Breuer, J. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
The contribution of the SafeWAVE EU project to the future development of ocean energy Bald, J., Galparsoro, I., Mandiola, G. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise
Displaying 1 - 40 of 723 results