As part of a new partnership with scientists to improve monitoring of marine life, RWE has launched the SeaMe (Sustainable Ecosystem Approach in Monitoring the Marine Environment) project at its Kaskasi offshore wind farm off the German coast.
The objective is to understand the interactions between offshore wind farms and the ecosystem through a scientific approach, using new AI-based and CO2-minimising monitoring technologies. One aim of the SeaMe project is to monitor key components of the marine ecosystem that are usually left out of conventional monitoring programmes, such as small phytoplankton (microscopic algae) and zooplankton (e.g. krill), which play a vital role in feeding larger animals. Additionally, a series of physical parameters such as temperature, salinity, and oxygen will be measured to explain any possible changes in the distribution and abundance of species.
The project will use monitoring technologies like environmental DNA sampling as well as a drone and an autonomous underwater vehicle, both equipped with AI-based cameras.
The three-year project will be carried out in collaboration with partners including the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity at the University of Oldenburg (HIFMB), the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), BioConsult SH, DHI, and the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI). The plan is to share the results on a dedicated online public platform.
All tests will take place at RWE’s 342 MW Kaskasi offshore wind farm, which is located 35 kilometres off the coast of the German island of Helgoland.
