German Bight -image: data from ESA, processed by Hereon

Offshore wind energy

© Vschlichting (istock)

Wind parks in the North Sea pose new challenges for engineers and scientists alike.

Offshore wind parks are an increasingly utilized source of renewable energy, that potentially can have a substantial impact on the marine environment. The Hereon uses the vast monitoring and predictive capabilities of COSYNA (for instance, HF- and X-band radar, buoys, satellite measurements, and numerical modelling) to observe the state of the sea, waves, and other marine conditions and to inform the public and interested parties. At the same time, research projects are developed to investigate changes in the marine environment, for instance, currents, turbidity, and biological production.