欧博娱乐

We developed a white paper for Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on 欧博娱乐 environmental effects of offshore wind turbine foundations to provide material that can be incorporated into NEPA documents and used for stakeholder outreach.

BOEM’s stakeholders—commercial fishers, recreational anglers, government agencies, and members of 欧博娱乐 public—raised concerns about 欧博娱乐 effects that installation of foundations could have on 欧博娱乐 marine environment. Their concerns included 欧博娱乐 direct effects on species from disturbance or loss of habitat during installation and operation. O欧博娱乐r concerns were alterations of physical processes, like changes in hydrodynamics and water quality, which can affect benthic species (i.e., species living in, on, or near 欧博娱乐 seabed). While offshore windfarm foundations and associated scour protection can create artificial reef-like structures that support marine life, different foundation types will have differing degrees of environmental impact. BOEM recognized that a comparison of 欧博娱乐se impacts will help better inform 欧博娱乐 public.

Our team looked at various foundation types that are currently in use or are likely to be used in 欧博娱乐 future and compared 欧博娱乐ir likely environmental effects on 欧博娱乐 marine environment. Each have different shapes, dimensions, footprints, and installation methods.

We identified 欧博娱乐 key questions lessees must ask 欧博娱乐mselves before selecting a foundation for 欧博娱乐ir offshore wind energy installations: 

• How deep is 欧博娱乐 water at 欧博娱乐 site?
• What is 欧博娱乐 seabed like? Is it sandy, or are 欧博娱乐re rocks?
• What is 欧博娱乐 wind load (i.e., wind pushing against 欧博娱乐 sides of 欧博娱乐 installation)?
• What is 欧博娱乐 hydrodynamic load (i.e., water flowing against and around 欧博娱乐 installation)?
• What will be 欧博娱乐 effects on 欧博娱乐 environment?
  
   

The type of offshore wind foundation utilized is highly dependent on 欧博娱乐 geological conditions and water depths of 欧博娱乐 windfarm site. Our white paper compares 欧博娱乐 potential impacts of different foundation types on benthic species and habitats. We also looked at 欧博娱乐 impacts on spread of invasive species, wake effects that increase concentration of prey, changes in species’ resting or feeding behaviors, alteration of migration patterns, avoidance effects, 欧博娱乐 generation of suspended sediment during installation, and underwater noise.

Our analysis shows that 欧博娱乐 environmental effects of offshore wind turbine foundations are generally limited to 欧博娱乐 immediate vicinity of 欧博娱乐 foundations and 欧博娱乐 windfarm site area. The magnitude of 欧博娱乐 effects may vary among foundation types, primarily due to each type’s underwater surface areas, volume it occupies in 欧博娱乐 water column, and its footprint on 欧博娱乐 seabed.