Affiliation:
1. Maritime University of Szczecin, 70-500 Szczecin, Poland
Abstract
The development of offshore wind farms is an important step toward increasing the share of green energy in Poland’s energy mix, offering promising prospects for the energy industry. However, in addition to numerous benefits, such investments also carry potential risks for the marine environment, including the risk of spills of hazardous substances such as gear oils, hydraulic oils, and lubricants. This paper analyses the potential impact of oil spills from offshore wind farms on the marine ecosystems of the Baltic Sea, taking into account hydrometeorological factors, particularly protected areas (such as Natura 2000 sites) and the intensity of ship traffic in the area of the planned farms. Simulations of spill scenarios are also presented to assess the potential extent of pollution and its impact on the environment. This paper emphasises the importance of advanced monitoring and safety systems in minimising the risk of accidents and responding quickly to possible incidents. The development of offshore wind farms in Poland presents itself as a key element in a sustainable energy development strategy, combining advanced technology with environmental concerns.
Reference49 articles.
1. Bejarano, A.C., Michel, J., Rowe, J., Li, Z., McCay, D.F., McStay, L., and Etkin, D.S. (2013). Environmental Risks, Fate, and Effects of Chemicals Associated with Wind Turbines on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf, OCS Study BOEM.
2. Potential Impacts from a Worst Case Discharge from an United States Offshore Wind Farm;Gunter;Int. Oil Spill Conf. Proc.,2014
3. Oil Spill Risk Analysis for Cape Wind Energy Project;Etkin;Int. Oil Spill Conf. Proc.,2008
4. Ship Collision Analysis on Offshore Wind Turbine Monopile Foundations;Bela;Mar. Struct.,2017
5. Structural Failure Analysis of Wind Turbines Impacted by Super Typhoon Usagi;Chen;Eng. Fail. Anal.,2016