Study: Offshore wind parks could emit over 200 chemicals, some toxic

Offshore wind farms could potentially release more than 200 chemical substances into the sea, including many that are toxic or carcinogenic, a study found on Tuesday.

The research – which did not establish how many of the chemicals are actually released – was led by the German Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) in collaboration with institutions from France and Belgium.

Researchers identified 228 substances that could be emitted by offshore wind farms, 62 of which are considered particularly environmentally relevant and are listed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

Among them are chemicals that could be toxic, persistent, hormonally active, or carcinogenic, many of which can accumulate in the food chain, the group wrote in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Around 70% of the chemicals primarily originate from corrosion protection systems, while 10% come from oils and lubricants. Additional emissions come from cooling and fire extinguishing agents.

One way to measure them would be to measure the concentrations of selected substances before construction and during the operation of offshore wind farms, the BSH said.

The study also showed that certain emissions can be avoided, by using alternative corrosion protection systems, closed cooling systems, or biodegradable operating materials.

“However, industry-specific standards, such as those used in shipping, are lacking,” the Hamburg-based BSH said in a statement.

In Germany, some regulations in place require project developers to submit a plan to the BSH during the planning phase that identifies potential emissions and outlines how they will be reduced.

The researchers are hoping that interdisciplinary collaboration will lead to international guidelines, and that further research can determine how many of the substances wind farms actually release.