Stefania Piarulli1, Bjørn Henrik Hansen1, Andy M. Booth1, Amaia Igartua1, Stian Stensby Sørum1, Aligi Foglia2, Sigrid Hakvåg1
1SINTEF Ocean, Norway - 2Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, Norway
Increased energy demand and concerns for the impact of climate change have prompted governments to set ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase their renewable energy sources portfolios. This is leading to a global proliferation of offshore wind farms (OWFs) and particularly, floating OWFs (FOWFs) are rapidly expanding. A critical prerequisite for the effective FOWFs deployment is the development of efficient mooring systems capable of ensuring stability and durability in dynamic marine environments. The technical effectiveness needs to be balanced with the minimisation of the ecological impacts which are currently unexplored for this type of infrastructure. Mooring lines can act as artificial reefs, providing new habitats for benthic species and impacting the structure and biodiversity of local communities. This study aims to investigate the reef-effect exerted by mooring systems used in FOWFs, focusing on the role of different types of mooring lines in affecting the dynamic and structure of the benthic community. A field experimental set-up is used to quantify and compare the community composition colonising two mooring systems: complex mooring ropes constituted by multiple layers of different polymers (new mooring technology) and stainless-steel chain (traditional mooring system). Over a two-season period the short-term colonisation patterns of micro- and macro-organisms, (species and functional) diversity, and biomass accumulation on each material type is assessed by a combination of traditional visual assessment and molecular analyses (eDNA-metabarcoding). The physical-chemical properties of the different mooring systems are also assessed through morphometric measurements and non-target chemical characterisation. The field experiment and analyses are ongoing, but it is envisioned that the results will contribute to understanding the ecological impact of different mooring systems on local marine biodiversity and ecosystems. Overall, this study will provide key knowledge for advancing mooring line technology while integrating ecological considerations into their design for minimising the negative ecological impact of FOWFs and supporting marine conservation goals.
Biography
Dr. Stefania Piarulli, a Research Scientist at SINTEF Ocean in Trondheim, Norway, specializes in marine biology and ecology. Her work focuses on assessing and mitigating the ecological impacts of anthropogenic activities on marine systems. Stefania`s research spaces from emerging contaminants to marine artificial structures and biodiversity. She is also interested in developing new monitoring methods and nature-based solutions for mitigating negative human and climate-related pressures,