Cumulative Ecological and Economic Effects of Offshore Windfarms (C3EO)

Offshore windfarm expansion will promote major changes in marine ecology and socioeconomics.

It is well documented that offshore windfarms overturn processes in the sea, including altering hydrology and restructuring the seascape, which altogether shift productivity and biodiversity. Additionally, different sectors are adjusting to the expansion of offshore windfarms especially aquaculture and fisheries that need to weigh potential benefits and drawbacks.

To understand the long-term effects of offshore windfarms a group of scientists from Aarhus University will investigate the mechanisms that cause changes in productivity and food web interactions, what new socioeconomic impact chains are generated, and importantly, how we can couple assessments of cumulative socioeconomic impacts and cumulative ecological impacts.