Abstract
Offshore and coastal wind power is one of the fastest growing industries in many areas, especially those with shallow coastal regions due to the preferable generation conditions available in the regions. As with any expanding industry, there are concerns regarding the potential environmental effects which may be caused by the installation of the offshore wind turbines and their associated infrastructure, including substations and subsea cables. These include the potential impacts on the biological, physical and human environments. This review discusses in detail the potential impacts arising from offshore wind farm construction, and how these may be quantified and addressed through the use of conceptual models. It concludes that while not environmentally benign, the environmental impacts are minor and can be mitigated through good siting practices. In addition, it suggests that there are opportunities for environmental benefits through habitat creation and conservation protection areas.
Highlights
Environmentalists and environmental managers increasingly debate the installation of offshore wind generating capacity because of its current position as the most rapidly expanding sector of the renewable energy industry
This review aims to analyse the potential environmental impacts and benefits of an offshore wind farm, put them into context, and show the potential dangers of making the EIA more detailed than required
At the Barrow Offshore Wind Farm, NW England, there are 30 turbines installed within an area of 10 km2, each occupying 452 m2, amounts to a total of 13,560 m2, assuming scour protection is deployed, less than 0.15% of the total area enclosed within the wind farm site boundary
Summary
Environmentalists and environmental managers increasingly debate the installation of offshore wind generating capacity because of its current position as the most rapidly expanding sector of the renewable energy industry. These installations are increasing, for example in the UK, with the largest of the recent Round 3 zones, announced in January 2010, being over 8,600 km (see The Crown Estate website for further details (www.thecrownestate.co.uk). The potential for energy yield is greater at sea than an equivalent wind farm on land and, with technological advances, the capacity to install turbines and their associated infrastructure further and further offshore is becoming achievable, allowing access to even greater and more constant winds and energy yields.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
