The construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) to provide clean energy and mitigate climate change has significant side effects on the marine environment. These impacts include a potential reduction in marine biodiversity and degradation of marine ecosystems due to the construction and operation of wind farms.
Marine ecosystem disruption by offshore wind farms
The construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) to provide clean energy and mitigate climate change has significant side effects on the marine environment. These impacts include a potential reduction in marine biodiversity and degradation of marine ecosystems due to the construction and operation of wind farms.
Nº 101
1) North Sea
2) Baltic Sea
- Climate & Atmosphere
- Energy Emission Reduction
- Promotion of Wind Energy
some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
Region-3
Region-4
ongoing case
no attempts made
Marine ecosystem disruption by offshore wind farms
1) Offshore wind farms (OWFs) in the North Sea region, which are designed to generate renewable energy, pose a threat to the environment by increasing the likelihood of various disturbances to ecosystems. These impacts include the generation of noise, which can disturb certain invertebrate species such as abalone and squid. The presence of OWFs can also lead to increased sedimentation, which can affect coral fertility and reduce biodiversity. In addition, the unpredictable habitat changes caused by OWFs can facilitate the introduction of invasive alien species, among other problems.
2) The construction of offshore wind farms (OWFs) in the Baltic Sea for renewable energy generation has had a negative impact on the benthic communities living in the area. These communities have experienced a reduction in oxygen levels due to the presence of OWFs, which has affected their ability to obtain adequate food, a trend that had been improving in recent decades. In addition, the decline in the populations of benthic species in the Baltic Sea has the potential to trigger a cascade effect that could affect other marine species.
- Frustrated the efforts to address the initial problem; The problem-shift had no effect on the efforts to address the initial problem
- Cascading (far-reaching effects following each other)
1) Galparsoro, I., Menchaca, I., Garmendia, J.M. et al (2022). Reviewing the ecological impacts of offshore wind farms. npj Ocean Sustain 1, 1. https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1038/s44183-022-00003-5
WWF (2014). Environmental Impacts of Offshore Wind Power Production in the North Sea. A Literature Overview. https://tethys.pnnl.gov/sites/default/files/publications/WWFOSW-Environmental-Impacts.pdf.
2) Lloret, J., Turiel, A., Solé, J., Berdalet, E., Sabatés, A., Olivares, A., Gili, J.-M., Vila-Subirós, J., & Sardá, R. (2022). Unravelling the ecological impacts of large-scale offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea. Science of The Total Environment, 824, 153803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153803
Zettler, M.L., Pollehne, F., (2006). The impact of wind engine constructions on benthic growth
patterns in the western Baltic. Offshore Wind Energy. Springer, 201–222
Galparsoro, I., Menchaca, I., Garmendia, J.M. et al. Reviewing the ecological impacts of offshore wind farms. npj Ocean Sustain 1, 1 (2022). https://doi-org.proxy.library.uu.nl/10.1038/s44183-022-00003-5
Lloret, J., Turiel, A., Solé, J., Berdalet, E., Sabatés, A., Olivares, A., Gili, J.-M., Vila-Subirós, J., & Sardá, R. (2022). Unravelling the ecological impacts of large-scale offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean Sea. Science of The Total Environment, 824, 153803. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153803
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