Work

The seafloor footprint of offshore wind infrastructure in the United States Ocean

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Increasing numbers of wind turbines are installed in the ocean, yet the total physical area or “footprint” of these structures remains unknown. We projected turbine footprints for U.S. ocean wind energy areas leased as of 2024. Calculations revealed turbines may occupy seafloor (18.20 km 2 ; turbine foundations plus scour protection area) and water column (6.33 km 2 ; vertical surface area underwater) footprints of similar magnitude to U.S. artificial reefs installed from 1899 to 2020.

Source: Discover Oceans

DOI: 10.1007/s44289-025-00097-y

Authors: Brendan J. Runde, Avery B. Paxton

Institutions: The Nature Conservancy, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Language: English

Topic: Wind Energy Research and Development

Subfield: Aerospace Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life below water, Climate action

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4415627016