10 promising ways to ‘green’ offshore wind

As offshore wind expands, researchers and industry figures interviewed by Mongabay outlined a menu of ways to reduce harm to marine ecosystems, starting with better site selection to avoid ecologically sensitive areas and bird migration corridors. Other measures include artificial reefs and habitat structures built into turbine foundations, quieter construction methods like water-jetting instead of pile driving, and policy tools that weigh environmental criteria alongside price in project auctions.

Experts also pointed to circular-economy approaches such as recyclable blades and foundation designs that use less steel, along with painted blades and conservation compensation to offset harm to birds and bats. Several sources stressed that long-term monitoring, spanning three to five years or more, remains scarce even as wind farms multiply globally.

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