A major research campaign has commenced off Scotland's northeast coast, bringing together leading UK marine scientists to investigate whether the next generation of floating offshore wind farms could enhance the productivity of UK seas. This initiative, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), aims to assess the environmental impact of these crucial renewable energy assets, particularly their potential to influence oceanographic processes and marine ecosystems. The findings will be vital for informing the sustainable expansion of offshore wind, a sector that already accounts for over 15% of the UK's electricity generation.

The campaign involves two research vessels, the RRS Discovery and Bangor University’s RV Prince Madog, supported by a fleet of underwater gliders. They are surveying waters around two prototype floating wind farms: Kincardine, operated by Grupo Cobra, and Equinor’s Hywind, both located off eastern Scotland. Scientists are specifically examining if increased turbulence and mixing, generated by tidal currents flowing through the floating structures, can bring nutrient-rich deep waters upwards to the sunlit surface layers. This process could stimulate plankton growth, which forms the base of the marine food web, potentially benefiting broader marine biodiversity and fisheries.

The UK is a global leader in floating offshore wind technology, a critical development as suitable shallow-water sites for fixed-bottom turbines become scarce. The shift to deeper waters, however, introduces new environmental considerations. These deeper coastal seas are highly biologically productive, characterized by seasonal stratification where warm surface waters overlay cooler, nutrient-rich deep waters. Professor Jonathan Sharples of the University of Liverpool, the project leader, highlighted the significance: "This research is a great opportunity to assess the effects of the new floating wind farm technology on ocean productivity. Present theories suggest our rapidly warming ocean will become less productive, affecting biodiversity and fisheries – it will be very useful to know if the nutrients mixed upwards by floating offshore wind farms can offset some of that reduction."

Observations during the summer 2023 heatwave revealed intriguing "cool wakes" downstream of the floating wind farms, where surface water temperatures were significantly lower than surrounding areas. Dr. Ben Lincoln of Bangor University explained, "If the wakes are bringing cooler water to the surface, they will also be bringing nutrients which could be used by the plankton." In a parallel innovation, a team from the University of Southampton is developing a novel method to extract water temperature data directly from the marine high voltage cables connecting the wind farms to the grid, offering unprecedented long-term ocean temperature tracking. This comprehensive measurement program is designed to provide robust data, ensuring future floating offshore wind developments contribute effectively to net-zero goals while safeguarding ocean health in a changing climate.