Camila N.

García Amasifuén

Offshore WINDFARMS Renzo F. Apaza Perez

Miguel A. Peláez Tuesta William Mijael Infante Paredes
CIV229 - Introduction to Environmental Engineering
H-0501 - Group 1
Design, construction, environmental benefits and impacts
The offshore wind industry is a vital component of renewable energy strategies (Díaz, 2020).

What is an offshore windfarm?

Benefits
Lower Visual and Noise Impact: Being located Renewable Energy: Offshore windfarms are
offshore, the visual and noise impact is very small a clean, renewable energy source.
Offshore wind farms are for people and land fauna.
a derivative of wind Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Contribute
energy, specifically, the by providing a clean energy source with a low
marine winds that occur carbon footprint.
on the coasts are used to
move the turbines to
Figure 1: Offshores Windfarm in the coast of United Kingdom (source BBC). generate electricity.

Offshore wind farms feature mega-

structures equipped with large Figure 4: Renewable electricty production
turbines and cutting-edge
technology. They use fixed support
platforms installed on the seabed,
threa are also floating offshore wind
turbines, they offer greater
Figure 3: Co2 emissions and renewable energy consumption relationship.
construction flexibility and ease of (Source Research Gate)
installation. Floating structures can
Higher Energy Generation: The wind resource at sea
also be readily removed from the
is greater than on land, up to twice that of an
system (Perveen, 2014). Different Figure 2: Types of offshore wind turbine foundations
average onshore wind farm. Figure 5: Onshore historical growth compared to EWEA´s offshore
types of offshore wind farms (reproduced from EWEA (2013), source Principle Power)
projection (source EWEA 2011).
structures:

Environmental Impacts
b) Collision c) Seabed
a) noise Pollution
Reduce the ability Risk to Birds disturbance
of animals to The installation of wind
Turbine propellers
communicate with turbines and
pose collision risks to
mates, other group infrastructure can
birds in flight. The
members, their physically alter the
decrease of birds can
offspring, or seabed. Vibration also
affect the whole
feeding partners. affects the seabed
ecosystem
Figure 6: Noise produced in dB(A). (Source Lios) Figure 7: Causes of birds deaths. (Source Figure 8: Disturbance produced in the
Research Gate) seabed
d) bIRDS F) Electromagnetic
DISPLACEMENT e) Risk of Oil Spills Fields
Submarine power cables
Displacement and Chemical can create
through indirect Contamination electromagnetic fields
loss of habitat if Accidental releases of that may affect marine
disturbance causes fuel, lubricants, and organisms. EMF exposure
birds to avoid the hydraulic fluids can harm can disrupt the behavior,
wind farm and marine life and degrade physiology, and
Figure 10: Total annual oil spillage onto land in the United
surrounds. Figure 9: Displacement or no effects of water quality. States (EPA data with analysis by Environmental Research
orientation of certain
wind turbines on bird space use or Consulting) species. Figure 11: Diagram of the EMF and the receptor
abundance, per wind farm type. (Source
MDPI)

Leading countries GLOBAl Latin America

RECORD
The UK owns the most important offshore wind industries in the world, with 36% of the market, followed by Germany Brazil had 96 offshore wind farm proyects in the enviormental licensing phase in this January
with 28.5% and China with 15%. Then, we have countries like Denmark, Netherlands and Belgium. 2024. “In total, these planned offshore wind farms have capacity of nearly 234 GW from 15,499
The USA has potential to generate more than four times the generating capacity of the current US electrical system, turbines which represents eight times more power compared to Brazil's ~ 29 GW of current
with ah access to 400 GW according to the American Wind Energy Association. onshore wind capacity.” Exposed ANEEL, the Brazil's electricity regulator.

Figure 12: Distribution of energy production percentages Figure 13: Top 10 offshore wind farms by capacity in megawatts. Figure 14: Offshore wind energy technical potential in selected countries in Latin America and the
through offshore wind farm. (Source Research Gate) (Sources: The guardin, Orsted) Caribbean in 2020

Walney CONCLUSION
Offshore wind farms represent a
Extension significant advancement in
However, their construction and installation pose
environmental challenges, such as disturbing marine
Walney Extension offshore wind sustainable energy, offering a way ecosystems and affecting wildlife. Despite these
farm, located in the Irish Sea, to harness the vast potential of issues, the global momentum towards offshore wind
generates enough clean marine winds for clean, abundant, energy is strong, with countries like the UK, Germany
electricity to power nearly and reliable power. They provide and China leading the way. Latin American nations, are
600,000 homes. This massive several benefits, including higher also recognizing the potential of offshore wind for a
feat of engineering was energy generation and reduced sustainable energy future. Overall, offshore wind
constructed on time and on visual and noise impact, while helping farms symbolize innovation, resilience, and hope in
budget and was inaugurated on Figure 15: Walney Extension Offshore wind farm. to mitigate greenhouse gas our quest for renewable energy solutions. Figure 16: Offshore wind farms in the coast of Germany. (Source The
the 6 September 2018. (Source Orsted) emissions. New York Times )

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