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Wind Turbines
The foundations of wind turbines have an impact on their local environment. Therefore, foundation selection is a primary consideration for developers and wind farm managers. Foundation selection is especially important for offshore wind turbines. The construction of turbine foundations and the use of scour protection materials have been notable impediments to shorebirds, seabirds, and the integrity of shallow water ecosystems including bedrock (Drewitt & Langston, 2006, p. 32). All wind turbines have an impact on birds, though, and the evidence suggesting that offshore wind turbines have a net worse impact on the avian community has been unsubstantiated (Fox et al., 2006). According to a Danish study, no more than two percent of total wind farm area is lost due to the turbine foundations or antiscour protection (Fox et al., 2006). The seabed habitat loss should, however, be monitored over time to provide more an accurate understanding of how foundation construction can be improved to minimize damage. One of the most notable problems with wind turbine environmental impacts is especially related to the foundation construction in both on shore and off shore settings. Madsen, Wahlberg, Tougaard, Lucke & Tyacke (2006) found that the construction of wind turbines for offshore turbine farms was more damaging to marine mammals than their ongoing operation, rendering the construction phase the most detrimental in terms of overall environmental impact.
One of the environmental concerns related to the foundations of wind turbines is...
This is especially true for marine mammals that rely on sound for their communications, which is why offshore wind turbine foundations have received the bulk of research funding in recent studies. However, land animals are also affected by the noise generated by wind turbines in the construction and operating stages. As the Wind Energy EIS (2014) points out, insulating materials can be installed in the base of the turbine construction to mitigate noise problems.
The foundations of wind turbines, whether shallow or deep, are not linked to significant damages in terms of leaking of toxic materials into surrounding earth. "Relatively small amounts of lubricating oils and hydraulic and insulating fluids" will be emitted, making "contamination of surface or ground water or soils is highly unlikely," (Wind Energy EIS, 2014, p. 1). There are, however, some differences between the concrete and steel foundation types used in the erection of wind turbines. Traditionally, reinforced concrete is used as a foundation for high rise wind turbines and these leave a shallow footprint (Zygomalas & Baniotopoulos, 2014). Concrete foundations are known to be both effective and stable (Zygomalas & Baniotopoulos, 2014). However, the new steel micropile foundations that are driven deeper into the earth have become more common in recent years and these may have more serious and severe environmental impacts than their concrete predecessors (Zygomalas & Baniotopoulos, 2014). Steel foundations have a more…
References
Drewitt, A.L. & Langston, R.H.W. (2006). Assessing the impacts of wind farms on birds. Ibis 48(1): 29-42.
Fox, A.D., et al. (2006). Information needs to support environmental impact assessment of the effects of European marine offshore wind farms on birds. Ibis 148(1): 129-144.
Razizadeh, S.B. (2014). Life cycle analyses of the foundation of onshore wind energy structures.
Wind Energy EIS (2014). Wind energy development environmental concerns. Retrieved online: http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/concern/
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