Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2025-02-03

Description

Description (EN):

The primary aim of offshore wind farms (OWFs) is to produce renewable energy. OWFs contribute to UN sustainable development goals on clean energy and climate action and offer opportunities for spatial multi-use with nature conservation and aquaculture. The type and environmental impact of chemical emissions from OWFs have been largely overlooked to date, although the first investigations indicate that OWFs represent a source of chemical emissions. As the North Sea is a highly dynamic system, these emissions can have a transboundary impact. Given the large increase in the number of OWFs, transnational cooperation is required to minimise contaminant emissions and ensure a healthy ecosystem. The Anemoi project, named after the Greek wind gods, aims to characterise chemical emissions from OWFs in the North Sea basin, assess their impact on the marine ecosystem, evaluate opportunities for aquaculture at OWFs and propose effective monitoring tools and reduction measures to ensure sustainable multi-use of the marine environment. Anemoi will increase our knowledge of the sources of chemical emissions and their potential risks, which is essential information for OWF industry and for policy development. The project will propose regulatory adaptations needed to reach internationally harmonised environmental legislation on OWF emissions within the North Sea area. Anemoi will bring forward solutions to reduce chemical emissions from corrosion protection systems and applied coatings, and will provide necessary elements for its sound management. To achieve the project objectives a strong participatory stakeholder framework will be established. Here, project partners and stakeholders from industry, policy and the public sector will participate in bi-directional knowledge exchange. This knowledge will be used to guide the project activities and proposed reduction measures, as well as to create new findings on the societal landscape that drives OWF development.

Actual Achievements (EN):

A general project meeting was held in November to inform all partners on the status of the difference tasks. Meetings with OSPAR-ICG-ORED and EU DG Environment were held to facilitate 2-directional knowledge transfer between Anemoi and these policy instances. This links to the preparation of a larger event in 2025 in Brussels in which we want to have a project meeting and stakeholder event where we want to present the final outcomes of WP1 on regulations of chemical emissions in presence of policy instances. In collaboration with ICES expert groups marine chemistry (MCWG) and offshore renewable energy (WGORE), a review is under preparation on current knowledge on chemical emissions from offshore wind farms and their effects. National authorities in the partnering countries were contacted to collect information on regulations for chemical emissions from OWFs (WP1). In parallel, an online research is conducted to identify relevant information and documents on this topic. All information feed into the overview of current national-level regulations on chemical emissions in the North Sea region. For WP2, potential chemical emissions from offshore wind farms were listed: based on literature and leachate experiments, a list of more than 250 compounds was made, which can potentially leach in the environment. Method developments and optimization were conducted to analyze organics and particle emissions from offshore wind farms (OWF). Analysis of metals was done on samples from OWF at the German and Belgian part of the North Sea, while analysis of organics and particulates are planned for 2024. A literature review was conducted in this reporting period to identify transportation pathways of particulate OWF emissions from sources to sinks. The compound list made within WP2 will be used to identify major issues in WP3, including a risk assessment. Experiments on mussels were conducted to evaluate the effect of paint leachates.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/anemoi

Thematic information

Coastal management and maritime issues Renewable energy Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-B_NS_3) Priority 3: A climate resilient North Sea region

Priority specific objective: RSO2.7. Enhancing protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, including in urban areas, and reducing all forms of pollution

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 079 Nature and biodiversity protection, natural heritage and resources, green and blue infrastructure

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: Eigen Vermogen van het Instituut voor Landbouw-, Visserij- en Voedingsonderzoek

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0262.172.489

Address: Burgemeester Van Gansberghelaan 92, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium

Department address: Merelbeke, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be

Total budget: EUR 1 203 671.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 722 203.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 481 468.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Universiteit Antwerpen

Name: Universiteit Antwerpen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE 0257 216 482

Address: Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.uantwerpen.be

Total budget: EUR 383 553.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 230 132.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 153 421.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Technische Universität Braunschweig

Name: Technische Universität Braunschweig

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 152330858

Address: Beethovenstr. 51A, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.tu-braunschweig.de

Total budget: EUR 796 414.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 477 848.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 318 566.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Stichting Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Instituten - Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee

Name: Stichting Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Instituten - Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL002882243B04

Address: PO Box 59, 1791AB Den Burg (Texel), Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.nioz.nl

Total budget: EUR 504 447.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 302 668.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 201 779.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

SINTEF OCEAN AS

Name: SINTEF OCEAN AS

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 937357370MVA

Address: Otto Nielsens veg 10, 7052 Trondheim, 7052 Trondheim, Norway

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.sintef.no/ocean

Total budget: EUR 74 212.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 37 106.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 37 106.00

GBER schemes / de minimis: GBER

Provinciaalse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Name: Provinciaalse Ontwikkelings Maatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0881702779

Address: Koning Leopold III laan 66, B-8200 Brugge, Belgium, 8200 Brugge, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://www.blueaccelerator.be/

Total budget: EUR 137 732.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 82 639.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 55 093.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Name: Koninklijk Belgisch Instituut voor Natuurwetenschappen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0353070496

Address: Vautierstraat 29, 1000 Brussel, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://odnature.naturalsciences.be/home/

Total budget: EUR 438 824.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 263 294.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 175 530.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer

Name: Institut Français de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 46 330 715 368

Address: 1625 Route de Sainte-Anne, 29280 Plouzané, France

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.ifremer.fr/

Total budget: EUR 505 203.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 303 122.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 202 081.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon

Name: Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 135 131 669

Address: Max-Planck Str. 1, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hereon.de/institutes/coastal_environmental_chemistry/index.php.de

Total budget: EUR 436 952.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 262 171.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 174 781.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Technical University of Denmark

Name: Technical University of Denmark

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK30060946

Address: Anker Engelundsvej 101A, 2800 Københavns Omegn, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.dtu.dk

Total budget: EUR 356 030.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 213 618.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 142 412.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie

Name: Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 811 239 341

Address: Bernhard-Nocht-Str. 78, 20359 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: National public authority

Website: http://www.bsh.de

Total budget: EUR 707 630.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 424 578.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 283 052.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Antwerpen University

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Technical University of braunschweig

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Dutch Research Counsil Institute Organisation - Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

SINTEF OCEAN AS

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Provinciale Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij West-Vlaanderen

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

French National Institute for Ocean Science

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Hereon

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Partners and Projects info

Own Capital of the (Flanders) Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Project acronym: Anemoi

Project ID: 8jnXl3Ny5

Project start date: 2023-02-01

Project end date: 2027-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 5 544 668.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 3 282 273.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 3 282 273.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Deliverables:

Extended peer community workshop / Combined workshop across WPs with the extended peer community. We will collectively map drivers and mental models of OWF emissions affecting marine ecosystems using fuzzy cognitive mapping and discuss potential solutions to reduce OWF emissions.
Extended peer community workshops / This activity involves workshops, in collaboration with other WPs, in which relevant actors interact with project partners to identify the impacts of OWF chemical emissions and collectively help the project development using fuzzy cognitive mapping.
Extended peer community workshops / This activity involves workshops, in collaboration with other WPs, in which relevant actors interact with project partners. Using fuzzy cognitive mapping, they will characterise emissions and collectively help the project development.
Identification of extended peer community / Consortium partners will identify relevant actors and stakeholders to be included in the Anemoi extended peer community.
Characterisation of current OWF systems / Acquire data on the design characteristics of different corrosion protection systems. Data on the anode/coating type and material, corrosion protection design configuration, etc. will be obtained from the current OWF corrosion protection systems.
WP3 follow-up data gathering / Stakeholders will be contacted directly to follow up and gather details on topics linked to the impacts of OWF chemical emissions that were discovered in external workshops or might otherwise assist research activities.
WP2 follow-up data gathering / Stakeholders will be contacted directly to follow up on and gather details about topics linked to contaminant emissions which were either discovered in the external workshop or might otherwise assist research activities.
Create an overview of current regulations on chemical emissions in participating countries / Necessary information from national and international authorities will be compiled to provide a comprehensive overview of current regulations.
Numerical models to predict chemical emissions from OWF corrosion protection systems / Development of numerical models to predict the amount of anode/coating material dissolution in the marine environment from current OWF corrosion protection systems.
Identification of toxicity testing requirements for risk assessment purposes / A data gap analysis for prioritised contaminants released by OWFs (as defined in WP2) will be performed by evaluating existing datasets. New toxicity testing needs will be identified in order to conduct a robust risk assessment for marine life.
Target compound selection based on available data / Based on existing data, this activity will provide a preliminary target list of relevant chemicals potentially released by OWF into the North Sea, thereby allowing the screening of these chemicals in selected OWFs.
Expose the gaps in current regulations / By conducting interviews with stakeholders, gaps in regulations in participating countries will be identified and prioritised.
Models to predict corrosion protection efficiency / Development of models to calculate the corrosion protection efficiency of the different corrosion protection systems, including impressed current, galvanic anode and thermal spray corrosion protection systems.
Production of environmentally realistic and worst-case chemical leachates / Environmentally realistic leachates will be produced from coatings and anodes applying standardised leachate protocols. Based on the priority chemicals in WP2, 'worst case' leachates will be produced through spiking of relevant contaminants.
Non-target screening of leaching organic chemicals / This task will profile the additive chemicals present in key items of OWF infrastructure and study their leaching into seawater. The primary focus will be on polymer-based coatings that will be sourced from OWF operators and suppliers.
Extended peer community workshop / Combined workshop with relevant WPs and the extended peer community. Using fuzzy cognitive mapping, we will collectively map drivers and mental models of OWFs emissions, including regulatory aspects.
Verification workshop / Verification workshop with the extended peer community as deemed beneficial during the project period, to re-engage peers, quality check progress, and update developments in the OWF space.
Toxicity evaluation of OWF chemical leachates on marine species / Determine thresholds for acute and chronic toxicity and identify models of toxic action of OWF leachates on early life stages of cod (Gadus morhua) and the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis).
WP1 follow-up data gathering / Stakeholders will be contacted directly to follow up on and gather details on regulatory aspects that were discussed or discovered in external workshops.
Priority list of chemicals for risk assessment based on leaching experiments and hazard assessment / This activity will complete the target list of chemicals with compounds identified during the leaching experiments. Chemicals from this updated list will be prioritised for risk assessment based on their persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity.
Evaluation and selection of corrosion protection systems / Corrosion protection systems will be evaluated based on the results from the developed models. The most sustainable corrosion protection system will be suggested, taking into account impacts from chemical emissions as well as efficiency and efficacy.
Effects of chemical leachates on sediment dwelling organisms / Assessment of toxicity of whole sediments from OWFs, to three different species: an amphipod, a polychaete and a fish embryo. Both acute toxicity (mortality) and chronic effects (reduced growth, reproduction, development) will be assessed.
Sampling plan / In collaboration with stakeholders, an on-field sampling plan will be designed, considering OWFs with various types of coating and corrosion protection, to study the levels and spatial distribution of target contaminants in the marine environment.
Create a framework towards harmonisation / A framework on available regulations and current gaps within these regulations will be created that will aid in promoting effective dialogue between stakeholders.
Identification of OWF ecotoxicological drivers and construction of Mental Models / Based on the fuzzy cognitive maps developed in the stakeholder workshops, a report will be made on the collective contextual understanding of chemical emissions from OWFs and potential future scenarios for development in the North Sea region.
Modelling effects on the functioning of the lower-trophic level ecosystem / We will include the observed ecotoxicological effects on mussels in a coupled hydrodynamics-ecosystem model and investigate how this affects the benthic and lower-trophic level pelagic ecosystem using scenario runs for various hydrographic settings.
On-field analysis of inorganic contaminants / To study their distribution and potential effects, this activity will identify and quantify inorganic contaminants released from the OWFs during operation in different environmental compartments (water, sediment, biota).
Verification workshop / Verification workshop with the extended peer community will re-engage peers, quality check the WP outcomes, and provide updates about any new regulations on OWF chemical emissions.
Final extended peer community meeting / Discussion of project findings to improve industry acceptance of more sustainable corrosion protection systems, receive feedback on results of the stakeholder engagements, and discussion of the Anemoi project legacy and future collaborations.
Experimental design for on-field exposure experiment / In preparation of an on-field pilot study with mussels, configurations of test racks will be defined, as well as locations, logistics and operations of the test campaigns. This will include 5 locations in the Belgium part of the North Sea.
On-field analysis of organic contaminants / Organic contaminants at OWFs will be quantified by combining target analysis of compounds placed on the target list (activities 2.3, 2.5) and a non-target chemical profiling to elucidate spatial differences in contamination at OWFs.
Implementation of the on-field exposure experiment / Execute on-field pilot study in the Belgian part of the North Sea that includes installation at 5 locations, mid-term cleaning of baskets, decommissioning of test infrastructure and transporting mussel baskets to the laboratory.
In-situ measurements of particles / Samples will be analysed for microplastics/paint particles using number-based and mass-based chemical approaches. Both methods will be optimised for paint particles and validated with reference material from different coatings and repair paints.
On-field assessment of bioaccumulation and effects of OWF chemical emissions / Effects of OWF emissions on aquaculture products and marine life will be assessed within the on-field pilot study. The accumulation of chemicals in marine species will be measured and the biological effects will be assessed.
Determination of fate and transport of paint flakes / The fate and transport of paint flakes will be investigated experimentally, using a saltwater-wave-current flume. Using fluorescent surrogate particles, we will study how paint flakes that become detached from a monopile sink to the sediment.
Risk assessment of chemicals released by OWF on marine life and humans / Quantitative risk assessment of prioritised chemicals will be performed for marine species and humans consuming aquaculture products by comparing thresholds values derived from existing and new toxicity data, with measured concentrations at OWFs.
Contaminant distribution modelling / The distribution of chemicals and particles will be modelled using coupled 3D-modelling of North Sea currents and waves. A water quality module will compute the spatio-temporal distribution, dilution, and fate of chemicals in the vicinity of OWFs.

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

The European Green Deal's zero pollution vision for 2050 aims to reduce pollution in air, water and soil to levels that are no longer considered harmful to human health and ecosystems. Anemoi contributes to this objective by assessing the risk of chemical emissions from OWF to the marine ecosystem and humans consuming aquaculture products and by proposing measures to reduce their impacts, including substitution of hazardous chemicals towards sustainable manufacture and operation of OWFs.
Renewable energy is essential in the fight against biodiversity loss caused by climate change. However, OWF could also lead to a new source of chemical emissions, putting pressure on the marine ecosystem. In Anemoi, the risk of these emissions will be assessed and mitigation actions to minimise their effect on the environment will be developed via stakeholder engagement. Anemoi will also harmonise regulations and policies to assure the quality and safety of fish stocks at and around OWFs.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 4
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 3

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-02-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

791 / 791 (100%)

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Chemical emissions from offshore wind farms: assessing impacts, gaps and opportunities

Description

Thematic information

Partners (11)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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