Abstract

Current best practice for installing offshore wind foundations involves the impact hammering of single or multiple piles to secure foundation structures to the seabed. This process generates Sound Exposure Level (SEL) that can cause both temporary and permanent adverse health effects to some marine life. The present paper collates the issues and impacts of acoustic emissions during pile driving for offshore wind turbine foundations and describes the regulatory framework in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the USA. Using a commonly accepted hazard management hierarchy, it is proposed that both offshore wind developers and marine life are advantaged if noise hazards are reduced at the source instead of attempting to mitigate the effects of sound exposure via isolation and control safeguards.

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