Offshore wind energy (OWE) represents a key technology for achieving a sustainable energy transition. However, offshore wind farms (OWFs) can impact the environment via installation, operation, maintenance, and decommissioning activities together with the raw materials and energy required for their manufacturing. This study assesses the material and carbon footprint of potential OWF locations in the North Sea for various possible future technology developments. We find that better sitings could save up to ∼0.11 kg (∼65%) of steel, ∼ 0.16 g (∼31%) of copper, and ∼6.44 kg (∼26%) of embodied CO₂-eq per MWh of electricity produced compared to the status quo setups. Nearshore regions of the North Sea, particularly the eastern and northwestern areas, have the lowest CO₂-eq per MWh of electricity produced due to favorable wind resources. Developing an OWF in the central North Sea requires more copper and aluminum due to large distances to shore and thus incurs higher embodied CO₂-eq per MWh. These areas also overlap with several protected areas and thus remain the least favorable for OWE development. The future emergent OWE technological developments for 2040 such as the installation of larger turbines with an extended lifetime alone could, on average, lead to reductions of ∼0.06 kg in steel demand (∼35%), ∼ 0.15 g in copper demand (∼31%), and ∼10.97 kg of CO₂-eq (∼41%) per MWh produced. Future OWFs incorporating these technological developments, when placed in the most suitable locations, have the potential to substantially lower OWF environmental impacts across the full turbine life cycle.

中文翻译：

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北海未来风力涡轮机的最佳环境选址


海上风能 （OWE） 是实现可持续能源转型的关键技术。然而，海上风电场 （OWF） 可以通过安装、运营、维护和退役活动以及制造所需的原材料和能源来影响环境。本研究评估了北海潜在 OWF 地点的材料和碳足迹，以应对未来各种可能的技术发展。我们发现，与现状相比，更好的放置可以节省高达 0.11 千克 （∼65%） 的钢、∼ 0.16 克 （∼31%） 的铜和 ∼6.44 千克 （∼26%） 的隐含 CO_2-eq。由于风能资源有利，北海近岸地区，尤其是东部和西北部地区，每兆瓦时发电的_CO2 当量最低。由于距离海岸较远，在北海中部开发 OWF 需要更多的铜和铝，因此每兆瓦时会产生更高的隐含 CO₂ 当量。这些区域还与几个保护区重叠，因此仍然最不利于 OWE 开发。到 2040 年，未来新兴的 OWE 技术发展，例如安装具有更长使用寿命的大型涡轮机，平均而言，可能导致钢铁需求减少约 0.06 公斤 （∼35%），铜需求减少 ∼ 0.15 克 （∼31%），以及每兆瓦时生产约 10.97 公斤二氧化碳当量 （∼41%）。未来的 OWF 结合这些技术发展，如果放置在最合适的位置，就有可能在整个涡轮机生命周期内大幅降低 OWF 对环境的影响。