An Offshore Wind Farm Does Not Start with Wind Turbines

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An Offshore Wind Farm Does Not Start with Wind Turbines

18. September 2026

KIKi töötaja artikkel

Image: Aron Urb

Discussions about offshore wind energy often focus on the turbines. In reality, the planning of a potential offshore wind farm is preceded by extensive studies examining everything from bat migration routes and seal feeding grounds to marine seabed habitats.

Offshore wind energy has become increasingly prominent in Estonia’s energy policy discussions in recent years. On the one hand, it is seen as an opportunity to increase renewable energy production and strengthen energy security. On the other, there are legitimate questions about the potential impact of offshore wind farms on the marine environment and the species that inhabit it. Finding answers to these questions begins with comprehensive studies.

One of the key characteristics of offshore wind energy is that wind conditions at sea are generally more stable than on land, making it an important potential addition to future renewable energy production. This is precisely why it is essential that any potential developments are based on thorough environmental and technical studies and take the specific characteristics of the marine ecosystem into account.

The joint Estonian-Latvian ELWIND project is preparing for potential offshore wind energy development in the Baltic Sea. In Estonia, the project is being implemented by the Environmental Investment Centre together with its partners, assessing whether the marine area west of Saaremaa is suitable for offshore wind energy production and under what conditions an offshore wind farm could be developed there. To this end, both environmental and technical baseline data are being collected.

Environmental studies cover virtually the entire marine ecosystem – from bats and birds to seals, fish, seabed communities and water quality. Their purpose is to establish a reliable baseline of the area’s wildlife and marine environment, enabling potential impacts to be assessed and providing a science-based foundation for future decisions.

International experience shows that the results of such studies can directly influence development planning. In several European countries, studies have led to changes in turbine locations, adjustments to cable routes, or the scheduling of construction activities in ways that help reduce impacts on birds, marine mammals and fish populations.

Birds, Bats and Marine Mammals

Although bats are usually associated with land, some species also travel over the sea, using it as a migration corridor and feeding area. Their activity and species composition are therefore monitored to assess potential collision risks and to understand how future turbines could affect their behaviour.

If studies show that the planned development area overlaps with an important migration corridor, or that bat activity is particularly high during certain periods, this can be taken into account when planning turbine locations. Where necessary, seasonal or temporary operational restrictions can also be introduced, such as shutting turbines down at night during periods of increased risk.

Bird surveys are carried out over a two-year period and combine aerial surveys, radar monitoring and telemetry. This provides information on bird abundance, distribution, migration routes and flight altitudes. The aim is to determine how important the study area is for birds as a feeding, stopover or migration area and how a potential offshore wind farm could affect them.

The results help determine whether certain areas should be avoided, whether turbine locations should be adjusted, or whether mitigation measures should be introduced to reduce impacts on migration and feeding areas.

Marine mammal studies focus primarily on grey seals, while also paying attention to ringed seals and harbour porpoises. Grey seal movements are tracked using satellite transmitters to map their feeding grounds, migration routes and habitat use. In addition, the number of grey seal pups at breeding sites near the ELWIND area is assessed using aerial surveys and drone imagery. Harbour porpoise occurrence is monitored using underwater acoustic devices that record their characteristic sounds. The studies also assess potential impacts caused by construction noise and increased vessel traffic.

If studies show that construction activities could disturb important breeding or feeding areas, the timing of construction can be adjusted and, where necessary, the boundaries of the development area or technical solutions can be modified.

Fish and the Seabed

Fish surveys are also an important part of the studies.