Offshore wind energy

The expansion of offshore wind energy in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea is an ambitious undertaking with far-reaching implications for marine ecosystems. Targeted research is being conducted to assess its effects on birds, marine mammals, and other marine species.

Offshore wind farms are being built in a marine environment that is of vital importance to a wide range of animal and plant species. The North Sea and the Baltic Sea provide essential resting and feeding grounds for seabirds, serve as migration corridors for millions of birds, support populations of porpoises and seals, and function as important migration routes for bats. The construction and operation of offshore wind turbines are associated with a wide range of adverse effects, including underwater noise generated during pile driving, habitat loss for seabirds, and collision risks and barrier effects for migratory birds.
 

In order to transmit the electricity generated by offshore wind farms in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea to shore, they must be connected to the onshore electricity grid via subsea cables. The impacts include, among other things, disturbance of the seabed and marine habitats. By using seabed-friendly installation techniques and optimising route selection, the aim is to minimise these impacts as far as possible and to avoid valuable marine habitats