In a groundbreaking initiative aimed at better understanding marine ecosystems, RWE has unveiled the SeaMe project at its Kaskasi offshore wind farm, located 35 kilometers off the coast of Heligoland, Germany. This 342 megawatt (MW) facility is the setting for an ambitious collaboration with leading scientists focused on improving the monitoring of marine life.
The SeaMe project seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of the interactions between offshore wind farms and the surrounding ecosystem by employing advanced scientific methods alongside innovative AI-driven and CO2-reducing monitoring technologies. RWE Offshore Wind CEO Sven Utermöhlen emphasized the company's commitment to operating in harmony with nature, stating, “As a global leader in offshore wind, we feel responsible for building and operating our wind farms in harmony with nature. We are committed to expanding our portfolio in an environmentally friendly way.”
The initiative comes in response to existing legal requirements in many countries mandating environmental assessments during the development and operation of offshore wind farms. However, RWE noted that these regulations often focus on specific groups of organisms, neglecting a holistic view of the ecosystem. The SeaMe project aims to address this gap by enabling simultaneous data collection across various ecological components.
Key objectives of the project include monitoring often-overlooked elements of marine ecosystems, such as small phytoplankton and zooplankton, which are crucial for larger marine life. Additionally, physical parameters like temperature, salinity, and oxygen levels will be measured to track changes in species distribution and abundance.
To enhance monitoring efficiency and reduce ecological impact, SeaMe will utilize drones equipped with AI-based camera systems to replace traditional aerial and maritime surveillance methods for monitoring birds and marine mammals. Water samples will be collected for environmental DNA analysis, while an autonomous underwater vehicle will carry out AI-based fish video monitoring, substituting the conventional net sampling techniques.
The three-year project will be executed in collaboration with several esteemed partners, including the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, the Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, BioConsult SH, DHI A/S, and the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence.
Results from the SeaMe project will be made accessible to the public through a dedicated online platform, reflecting RWE's commitment to transparency and community engagement in environmental stewardship. As Utermöhlen noted, “With the SeaMe project, we are pioneering new techniques that will enable us to better understand the impact of offshore wind on the marine ecosystem.”
