The Sailbuoy Survey at Hywind Tampen

The Sailbuoy Survey at Hywind Tampen is a groundbreaking expedition marking innovations in marine monitoring. Two Sailbuoys—autonomous uncrewed surface vehicles designed by Offshore Sensing AS—were deployed to comprehensively survey the pelagic ecosystem at the Hywind Tampen floating wind farm. Conducted by Akvaplan-Niva, this survey was part of an offshore cruise that began on May 4, 2023, and lasted for 26 days, covering an impressive distance of approximately 3000 km (or 1620 nautical miles).

Survey Design and Execution

The survey was designed with two distinct transect areas to evaluate the environmental impact of the wind farm on marine life. The first, an upstream transect located northwest of the wind farm, served as a control area. Here, the waters, generally unaffected by the wind farm due to prevailing southeast currents, were expected to show natural variability in marine life distribution and abundance.

The second transect was downstream, within and around the perimeter of the wind farm. This area was of particular interest as it likely experienced the direct influence of the turbines. The survey’s objective was to detect any differences in marine life between the centre of this transect—where the influence of the wind farm was presumed to be greatest—and its edges, where conditions would predominantly reflect natural environmental variations.

Challenges and Coordination

Throughout the survey, the Sailbuoys—Echo 1 and Echo 2—collected 800 GB of acoustic data. The deployment was not without its challenges; the dynamic maritime environment, including the ongoing construction of the wind farm where four additional turbines were installed, necessitated constant coordination. The Sailbuoy pilots maintained regular contact with the construction field coordinator to ensure the survey’s integrity despite these obstacles.

Recovery and Initial Findings

After completing their mission, the Sailbuoys departed from the wind farm on May 30, 2023, and headed towards Bergen. They were subsequently recovered by the Redningsselskapet’s ship RS 163 Kristian Gerhard Jebsen II on June 5, 2023. Preliminary analysis of the survey data indicated that while there were variations in marine life distributions, these were mostly within the expected range of natural variability, suggesting minimal immediate impact from the wind farm structures.

Read the full report from Akvaplan-niva AS here

Implications for Future Offshore Wind Farms

This collaboration marks a significant advancement in autonomous ocean monitoring, offering scalable and robust solutions for industries ranging from environmental research to maritime security.

This survey is pivotal for future offshore wind projects, offering a template for how environmental monitoring can be integrated into the operational framework of renewable energy installations. It underscores the potential of using advanced autonomous technologies like Sailbuoys to gather crucial ecological data, thereby aiding in the sustainable development of marine infrastructure.

As the analysis of the collected data continues, further insights will likely help shape strategies to decrease any potential impacts on marine ecosystems. This will ensure that expanding renewable energy sources like Hywind Tampen is balanced with ecological stewardship. This innovative approach supports the growth of sustainable energy and preserves our oceans’ health, demonstrating a proactive step towards environmentally conscious energy production.