Quantification and characterisation of Belgian offshore wind farm operational sound emission at low wind speeds

Offshore renewable energy installations contribute to the continuous underwater sound that has been identified as an environmental concern under the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This study quantified, characterised and compared the continuous underwater sound emitted by steel jacket foundation and monopile Wind turbines during operation at low wind speed (0-12 m/s). The operational sound emitted by a monopile founded and a jacket founded wind farm in the BPNS showed a maximum increase of SPL of about 20 dB re 1 µPa. Spectral analysis showed that this increase occurs at frequencies b... Mehr ...