Offshore wind farms may do more than boost renewable energy: they might support marine ecosystems, too. That’s the takeaway of a new study conducted in China. The researchers found that wind turbines provided support for colonies of oysters and barnacles and that fish species and biomass were more abundant near the turbines than they were in an area without the machines.
The study counters a frequent criticism of offshore wind farms—that they are detrimental to marine life and may damage the seabed. China, while being the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is a global leader in renewable energy build-out, including offshore wind projects. It has the largest wind power capacity of any nation and plans to build the world's largest wind turbine.
Located in China’s northern Yellow Sea, the wind farm evaluated in the study gave rise to a so-called benthic ecosystem—one dominated by seafloor organisms—that was nonexistent in a comparable area nearby that had no turbines. The researchers think the rough turbine surfaces provided an optimal habitat for such organisms.
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Because these organisms were able to grow and thrive on and around the turbines, predatory fish followed the food, boosting the ecosystem’s diversity and stability overall, said James Tweedley, a senior lecturer at Murdoch University in Australia and a co-author of the study, in a recent statement.