Hydro-environmental impacts of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems

To meet the Paris Agreement goals, the European Climate Law aims for climate neutrality by 2050, with an interim target of a 55% reduction in net emissions by 2030. Increasing energy generation from renewable sources is key to a transition from fossil fuels and the EU has a goal to raise renewable energy share to 42.5% by 2030, up from 23% in 2022. Offshore wind energy presents substantial opportunities for large scale energy generation. To achieve the 2050 target, it is estimated that an average annual offshore wind capacity growth of 8.3 GW from 2027 to 2030 and an average annual installation of 12 GW from 2030 to 2050 is needed. However, the installation rate is currently 7GW per year, so substantial increase is required. Offshore wind farms, when implemented at the large scale required to meet emission reduction targets, has the potential to alter the hydro-environment including hydrological regime. Little is known about the knock-on impacts on sediment transport, ecological and water quality processes and their wider implications on seabed habitats and marine ecosystem functioning. This project aims to investigate the potential hydro-environmental impacts associated with the lifecycle of offshore wind energy extraction and find mitigating measures to minimise the impacts. Quantitative risk-based assessment modelling investigations will be undertaken to predict the water quality, sediment and contaminant transport processes associated with offshore wind farm expansions.