On the prediction of underwater aerodynamic noise of offshore wind turbines

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method to predict underwater noise from offshore wind turbines, highlighting its environmental impact and aiding in designing quieter turbines for sustainable offshore wind energy expansion.

Contribution

It presents the first quantification of underwater aerodynamic noise for large offshore turbines and develops a novel prediction methodology integrating noise modeling and wave propagation theories.

Findings

Underwater noise increases with turbine size and farm scale.

Aerodynamic noise poses potential risks to marine life.

The proposed method enables better noise mitigation strategies.

Abstract

The growing demand for offshore wind energy has led to a significant increase in wind turbine size and to the development of large-scale wind farms, often comprising 100 to 150 turbines. However, the environmental impact of underwater noise emissions remains largely unaddressed. This paper quantifies, for the first time, the underwater aerodynamic noise footprint of three large offshore turbines (5 MW, 10 MW, and 22 MW) and wind farms composed of these turbines. We propose a novel methodology that integrates validated wind turbine noise prediction techniques with plane wave propagation theory in different media, enabling turbine designers to predict and mitigate underwater noise emissions. Our results confirm that aerodynamic noise from offshore wind farms presents a potential environmental challenge, with negative effects on marine life. Addressing this issue is crucial to ensuring the sustainable expansion of offshore wind energy.