Offshore wind energy is a form of renewable energy that harnesses strong and consistent winds over the ocean and transfers it into electricity networks on land. It is considered an attractive renewable resource because it can mitigate the effects of climate change. Already an established industry in the UK and Europe, this type of energy could play an important role in Australia’s future energy supply systems.
Offshore wind farms can generate a significant amount of reliable, secure and affordable electricity. Harnessing offshore wind into energy will contribute to Australia achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 provides a framework for the licensing, development and construction of offshore wind projects, with addirtional guidance provided by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). Australia’s first offshore wind development zone was announced in late 2022 and six regions across southern Australia are now poised for offshore wind farm development.
Supporting the sustainable development of offshore wind
While offshore wind farms provide significant environmental benefits through clean energy production, they can also have impacts on marine ecosystems such as noise pollution, sediment disturbance, habitat disruption and animal distribution.
Through its long-term research into the environmental considerations posed by offshore oil and gas platforms and sub-sea structures, AIMS leads the way in providing the environmental knowledge required to assess the influence of offshore renewable energy on marine animals and their ecosystems. This includes understanding:
- migratory movements of animals such as pygmy blue whales and whale sharks;
- the effect of marine noise in the ocean;
- marine organism growth on, and interaction with, undersea structures; and
- the value of offshore structures to fish and fisheries.
Multi-disciplinary assessments on environmental impacts
Applying learnings from the international sector, AIMS uses its in-depth knowledge of local marine ecosystems and species to understand and measure impacts and inform sustainable development of the industry. Our dynamic approach to research in this field is facilitated by diverse expertise across a range of scientific disciplines and an extensive network of qualified partners across the globe.
AIMS can provide:
- assessment of baseline condition of local ecosystems and populations to inform environmental impact assessment and ongoing management activity.
- assessment of the influence of offshore energy infrastructure on marine ecosystems during installation, operation, and decommissioning.
- management and coordination of large, multidisciplinary and multi-institute research programs.
AIMS has expertise in:
Threatened, protected & migratory marine species including:
distribution and abundance; biologically important areas (migration pathways, foraging, resting and breeding); population demographics; overlap and potential interactions with industry; monitoring change.
Ocean processes including:
assessment and modelling of ocean currents; effects of infrastructure on hydrodynamics; wave-tide interactions; sediment suspension, transport and deposition; impacts on connectivity.
Sea Country values such as:
partnering with Traditional Owners to understand cultural values, inform science, and mitigate potential effects of offshore energy installations.
Noise impacts on marine fauna including:
assessment of underwater noise emissions; impacts of noise on threatened species, commercially important fish and invertebrates; hearing sensitivity of key species; behavioural change; cause-effect pathways.
Effects of electromagnetic fields such as:
sharks and rays; western rock lobster; sensitivity of key species; cause-effect pathways; biological impact assessments.
Habitat creation, biosecurity, & fish populations such as:
impacts to existing benthic habitats; habitat creation and change; biosecurity risks and assessments; fish community assessments, temporal and spatial variability and change; social license to operate.
Research and industry partnerships
AIMS works in partnership with research organisations, consultants and industry to undertake innovative research to understand the role and value of offshore structures in marine ecosystems. Our comprehensive research is enabled by wide-ranging expertise, industrial-scale infrastructure, innovative technology, and extensive national and international collaboration networks. For example, AIMS has undertaken research into the influence of offshore structures on the dispersion of fish larvae via oceanic currents (connectivity) and fish production in Australia’s Gippsland region and provided guidance to inform the sustainable development of offshore wind in Australia.
