Offshore wind farms (OWF), artificial reefs (ARs) and marine ecology relationship

Abstract

The underwater foundations and surrounding structures of offshore wind turbines have the potential to function as artificial reefs (AR), creating new habitats for marine species. This represents an important opportunity to combine renewable energy generation with the promotion of marine biodiversity. When AR is utilised as an infrastructure for wind turbines with conscious planning, it can simultaneously enable both clean energy production that contributes to combating climate change and the protection of marine ecosystems. This study was prepared by examining national and international scientific literature in order to understand the biodiversity and ecological impacts of wind turbines built on artificial reefs in different seas and to contribute to the action plans and strategy documents to be created at national level within the scope of combating the climate crisis. In the review of national and international scientific literature, 34 different scientific studies published in peer-reviewed journals and the project experiences of researchers related to ARs were also utilised. In this context, the importance of renewable energy in the context of climate change and the protection of marine ecosystems has been discussed from the perspective of conservation and the positive and negative aspects of artificial reef-wind turbine interactions have been evaluated.

Keywords

• Offshore Wind Farms (OWF)
• Wind Energy
• Renewable Energy
• Artificial Reef (AR)
• Biodiversity

Açık deniz rüzgâr çiftlikleri (OWF), yapay resifler (ARs) ve deniz ekolojisi ilişkisi

Abstract

Açık deniz rüzgâr türbinlerinin su altındaki temelleri ve etrafındaki yapılar, aslında yapay resif (Artificial Reef, AR) işlevi görerek deniz canlıları için yeni habitatlar oluşturma potansiyeline sahiptir. Bu durum, yenilenebilir enerji üretimi ile deniz biyoçeşitliliğinin desteklenmesini bir araya getiren önemli bir fırsata işaret etmektedir. AR, bilinçli planlama ile rüzgâr türbinlerinin altyapısı olarak değerlendirildiğinde, hem iklim değişikliğiyle mücadeleye katkı sağlayan temiz enerji üretimini, hem de denizel ekosistemlerin korunmasını eşzamanlı olarak mümkün kılabilir. Bu çalışma, farklı denizlerde yapay resifler üzerine inşa edilen rüzgâr türbinlerinin biyoçeşitlilik ve ekolojik etkilerini anlayabilmek ve iklim krizi ile mücadele kapsamında ulusal düzeyde oluşturulacak eylem planı ve strateji belgelerine katkı sunabilmek amacıyla ulusal ve uluslararası bilimsel literatürlerin incelenmesi ile hazırlanmıştır. Ulusal ve uluslararası bilimsel literatürlerin incelenmesinde, yayınlanan çalışmaların hakemli dergide yayımlanmış 34 farklı bilimsel çalışma ve araştırmacıların AR’lar ile ilgili proje deneyimlerinden de faydalanılmıştır. Bu kapsamda iklim değişikliği bağlamında yenilenebilir enerjinin önemi ve deniz ekosistemlerinin korunması perspektifiyle ele alınmıştır ve yapay resif-rüzgâr türbini etkileşimlerinin olumlu ve olumsuz yönleri değerlendirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Offshore Wind Farms (OWF)
• Rüzgar Enerjisi
• Yenilenebilir Enerji
• Yapay Resif (AR)
• Biyoçeşitlilik

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