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Learn how offshore wind farm foundations can form new habitats, protect species, and promote biodiversity on the seabed.
An unexpected transformation has begun to be observed around large structures used in offshore renewable energy generation. Initially installed to support offshore wind turbines, the metal foundations and rock protections have become occupied by different marine organisms, creating environments similar to artificial reefs.
Studies presented since 2012 to the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea indicate changes in the distribution of fish and other species near these developments. The European Environment Agency also recognized, in November 2024, that certain offshore structures can offer favorable surfaces for the formation of new habitats.
Without replacing natural ecosystems or automatically recovering degraded regions, these installations can increase the environmental complexity of areas dominated by sand or mud. The phenomenon occurs because the rigid bases offer shelter, food, and attachment points for organisms that cannot easily establish themselves in mobile sediments.
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How wind turbines create new marine habitats
When fixed to the ocean floor, the foundations introduce large solid surfaces in environments that often have little structural variety. Organisms such as mussels, oysters, sponges, and small crustaceans begin to adhere to the bases and form biological layers around the towers.
The initial colonization represents an essential stage of transformation. As these organisms grow, new food sources become available, attracting smaller fish and, subsequently, larger predators to the vicinity of the installations.
The gaps between rocks, protective blocks, and submerged components also function as hideouts. Larvae and juvenile animals use these spaces to escape predators and find more stable conditions during the initial stages of development.
The presence of the structures can also locally alter water movement. These changes favor the concentration of nutrients and organic matter, important elements for the organisms living attached to the foundations.
The result is the creation of a more complex environment than that existing before construction. Over time, the surroundings of the towers can gather filter-feeding mollusks, schools of fish, crustaceans, and different species associated with the seabed.
How wind farms can protect the seabed
The areas occupied by offshore wind farms often present restrictions on navigation and certain fishing activities. The presence of towers, cables, and foundations mainly hinders the passage of large trawl nets used on the ocean floor.
The reduction of this activity can decrease the disturbance of sediments in certain regions. In this way, sensitive organisms find better conditions to establish, grow, and complete their reproductive cycles.
The United Kingdom’s Marine Management Organization, however, highlights that the accumulated impacts of these developments still need to be monitored. Wind farms cannot be automatically classified as natural sanctuaries, as each area presents different environmental characteristics.
Invasive species can also take advantage of artificial surfaces to spread. For this reason, the possible benefits depend on the location, planning, and monitoring carried out during all stages of the project.
How engineering can favor biodiversity
Currently, engineers and biologists work together to create submerged structures more favorable to marine life. Rough surfaces, blocks with cavities, and planned reefs are some of the solutions used to increase the availability of shelter and facilitate the attachment of organisms.
In the Netherlands, the Rich North Sea program installed oysters and reef structures in the Eneco Luchterduinen wind farm. The experience was used as a reference for similar actions in other offshore wind energy projects.
The goal of these initiatives is to combine electricity generation with environmental protection measures. Although the constructions can cause noise, alter sediments, and affect some species, proper planning allows for reducing impacts and creating opportunities for new habitats.
Thus, the foundations that support the turbines cease to fulfill only a structural function. When correctly planned, they can serve as shelter for mollusks, crustaceans, and fish, demonstrating that energy infrastructure can also contribute to marine biodiversity.
