Session: 08-06-01 Integrated Design & Environmental Assessment of Floating Offshore Wind Systems

Submission Number: 182179

Assessing the Underwater Noise of Floating Offshore Wind Turbines: Geometry Effects and Site Specific Modelling in Southern Brittany 

Assessing the underwater acoustic footprint of floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) is crucial for environmentally responsible offshore energy deployment, as noise emissions can affect marine fauna and also influence regulatory compliance. This study, conducted within the framework of the EU FLOATFARM project, develops detailed noise maps for southern Brittany, France, considering both wind farm operations and shipping activity in the area. To systematically evaluate the influence of turbine design on underwater noise, different FOWT configurations, such as spar and semi-submersible platforms, are analysed under comparable excitation conditions. For this, blocked forces are used. This approach allows the characterization of the vibro-acoustic source and consistency when comparing different floaters, isolating the effect of geometry on radiated noise. Underwater acoustic propagation is simulated using blueOASIS’s RAINDROP toolbox, which seemingly integrates Python with well-validated underwater acoustic solves while also taking into account site-specific bathymetry, metocean conditions, and multiple acoustic sources, enabling efficient generation of realistic noise maps. By comparing the vibro-acoustic responses of different turbine geometries, this work provides insights into how design choices influence the marine soundscape. The findings support informed offshore wind farm planning, offering a framework to minimise environmental impacts and optimise turbine layout and design in floating wind energy projects.

Presenting Author: Marcos Ricardo Souza blueOASIS

Presenting Author Biography: Marcos has more than 15 years of experience in vibro-acoustics, from NVH of electric vehicles to Acoustic Black Holes, he holds a PhD from the ISVR and currently leads the Underwater Acoustics at blueOASIS.

Authors:

Tiago Teles blueOASIS
Tiago Gomes blueOASIS
Marcos Ricardo Souza blueOASIS
Guilherme Vaz blueOASIS