Liwei Si (et al.) from the Dalian Ocean University wondered what the environmental impact of offshore wind farms might be?
Nobody likes the onshore variety, much. They’re ugly, noisy and kill birds. Offshore facilities seem like a much better idea as they can be built bigger and a long way from people (and many birds).
Discussion in the West suggests the jury is still out on the environmental impact of these things. On the one hand the fabrication and installation is a resource and energy hungry process, on the other they might end up becoming fish sanctuaries. Time will have to pass to see if this is the case.
No need to wonder further in China though, time has passed.
The researchers looked at the largest-oldest facility in China, the Zhuanghe wind farm composed of 60 turbine mono-piles each with a 5mw turbine on top covering an area of 48sqkm. Next to it they mapped out a control area of equal size.
The results were unequivocal. Variety, density and volume of nearly all marine species increased in the wind farm area versus the control.
The authors of the note acknowledge the facility isn’t that old so follow-up will be required. Also, they concede like other studies in the West, the construction will have damaged marine habitats and had some influence on the marine environment so the study isn’t presented as a better-after-than-before analysis but a better-with-a-windy-farm-than-without study.
My note. When the Zhuanghe facility was being planned the project was ambitious in terms of size, location and the technological challenge. Fast forward to 2025. The Zhuanghe generators are each 5mw but Dongfang Electric is now testing a 17mw generator with a view to deployment soon.
In the works is a 26mw generator (the size of this thing!) which will be the largest ever built and these monsters will be game changers in terms of implied efficiency and generation costs. You have to like all this, the fish at least seem to.
You can read the paper in full via the following link Offshore Wind Farms Can Enhance the Structural Composition and Functional Dynamics of Coastal Waters.
Happy Sunday.