RWE and Hydrotechnik Offshore have introduced an underwater noise-abatement system for the first time in the UK, using bubble curtain technology to reduce the impact of offshore wind turbine installation on marine life.
The technology has been deployed at the 1.4-gigawatt (GW) Sofia offshore wind farm, located approximately 195 kilometres off the coast of England on Dogger Bank. The site lies within the Southern North Sea Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a protected zone for harbour porpoises, where noise disturbance regulations are closely enforced.
“By introducing the use of a bubble curtain on a trial basis, we are strengthening our commitment to environmental responsibility,” said Matthew Swanwick, Sofia project director at RWE. “Projects like this can ensure offshore wind energy can be developed sustainably, with minimal impact on marine life, taking cognisance of working with a Special Area of Conservation.”
Already in use in other parts of Europe, the bubble curtain creates a ring of rising air bubbles by pumping compressed air through a perforated hose laid on the seabed around the turbine installation site. The resulting 180-metre-wide barrier helps break up and slow underwater sound waves generated during piling operations, significantly reducing their intensity.
RWE said the system is designed to reduce potential harm to species such as harbour porpoises, dolphins, and whales, which rely on sound for navigation and communication.
The Sofia offshore wind farm is implementing a range of sustainability measures alongside the noise-reduction initiative. Half of the project’s 100 Siemens Gamesa 14MW turbines will be equipped with recyclable blades—the highest proportion used on a commercial-scale offshore project to date. Additionally, two of the world’s first methanol- and battery-powered Service Operations Vessels (SOVs) will support operations, expected to cut carbon emissions by up to 10,000 tonnes per year.
RWE has also contributed to regional marine conservation efforts, including a £25,000 donation to North Sea Conservation, the organisation behind the Whitby Lobster Hatchery.
Once operational in 2026, the Sofia offshore wind farm is expected to supply electricity to the equivalent of 1.2 million UK homes.
