However, while offshore wind projects can produce zero emissions energy, they can also hold an embodied carbon cost, through the materials used for construction, the transportation of those materials to the site, and at the decommissioning stage at the end of a turbine’s life.
To reduce the carbon impact of any offshore wind project, then, it is necessary to consider its full lifecycle and implement a circular approach to resource management, where the project reduces carbon emissions and protects the natural environment from the early stages of project development.
Early-stage feasibility, planning and design
Understanding the feasibility of potential projects and being careful about where they are placed means project leads can avoid generating a significant proportion of carbon emissions from the outset.
As important as addressing the climate crisis is ensuring we are protecting and enhancing nature, so developers should take the opportunity during site selection to assess marine biodiversity around the proposed project, to understand the impact a potential project may have on a coastal habitat. By planning in this way, developers can mitigate potential harm their projects may cause to surrounding ecosystems, while still providing benefits to local communities .
Indeed, just as our actions do not exist in a vacuum and significantly impact the natural environment, no energy project is an island. The industry must collaborate to realise carbon emissions targets, rather than working in siloes. Sharing infrastructure between neighbouring development projects, including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, with offshore wind can improve the overall efficiency and flexibility of our energy system. Alleviating the burden placed on the wider energy grid will also reduce the costs of decarbonisation, incentivising further integration and investment into future offshore wind farms.
Manufacturing, operation, and end-of-life
The construction phase of an offshore wind project also offers plenty of opportunities for innovation. Sourcing recycled and recyclable materials is key here. 85-90% of a wind turbine is already recyclable, but its blades are often difficult to break down. In 2021, however, Siemens Gamesa has launched the world’s first recyclable wind turbine blade, made of a special resin which allows blade materials to be recycled for other uses. Investing in these up-and-coming technologies is crucial, then, to ensure offshore wind’s carbon emissions are minimised to the fullest extent.
Decarbonising transportation of these materials can also significantly reduce carbon emissions. In addition to incorporating low energy vessels and renewable fuels, project leads should look to source materials locally to decarbonise the value chain. As on land, planners are considering how to limit overall rail or vehicle movement; freight transport by water can also be optimised to lower overall vessel movement.
Moreover, when turbines reach end-of-life, decommissioning should not generate further waste. Right now, much of the existing marine environment decommissioning guidance is based on the oil and gas sector. So, innovative solutions are needed to ‘close the loop,’ whether by recovering and reusing materials in other projects or considering repowering to extend the lifetime of an asset.
Looking ahead
It’s clear that a new type of thinking is required where competitors, clients, and their value chains collaborate to reach the UK’s net zero commitments. WSP’s renewable energy consultant services and Future Ready initiative looks at projects and planning with this big-picture lens. To be ready for the future, it’s vital that as an industry we share insights and advice to ultimately benefit our communities, towns and cities, and clients.
