Offshore wind farms are becoming increasingly popular in Germany as the country aims to rely more on renewable energy sources. However, environmentalists and some scientists have raised concerns about the potential impact of these wind farms on marine life and the ecosystem. Recently, researchers from the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon investigated whether large wind farms in the North Sea affect air currents and the ocean surface. The study found that the wind turbines can cause atmospheric turbulence up to 70 kilometers away, which in turn affects the water surface. The changes in air currents lead to a 0.0025-meter-per-second alteration in water movement, which is between 10 and 25 percent of the annual variation in the North Sea. Additionally, the reduced wind speed caused by the wind farms hinders the mixing of water layers, altering the temperature and salinity of the surface water.
The researchers analyzed data from the summer of 2013 in the southern North Sea and found that the wind farms caused measurable changes in the water surface. The alterations in the ocean surface can extend several dozen kilometers from the wind farms, affecting the salinity and temperature of the water. The study also suggests that the wind farms could affect the distribution of nutrients in the surface water, which could negatively impact the plankton communities in the North Sea. The researchers emphasize the need for further studies to investigate the impact of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems and organisms in the North Sea, particularly as Germany plans to expand its offshore wind capacity to between 50 and 70 gigawatts by 2050.
The observed changes in the ocean surface caused by offshore wind farms are currently small, but they are similar in magnitude to the expected changes due to climate change or year-to-year variability. The study highlights the importance of considering the potential impact of renewable energy sources on the environment and the need for further research to ensure sustainable development.
