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US firm pilots 'bubble curtains' for offshore wind turbine construction
Bubble curtains can transform offshore wind construction by safeguarding marine mammals from detrimental noise pollution.
By:
Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji Bello
Representational image - Gannet77/iStock
The serene waters of the New England coast have recently experienced a not-so-subtle change: the introduction of the nation's inaugural large-scale offshore wind farms. But amidst the whirring turbines and pile-driving activities, a novel strategy of blowing bubbles has emerged—one that could be a game-changer for marine life, especially whales, dolphins, and endangered species in the northern Atlantic.
Richard Hine, from Thayer Mahan Offshore, is spearheading this pioneering technique.
He explained how these walls of air bubbles act as a shield, effectively absorbing a staggering 80 to 90 percent of the deafening acoustic energy generated during the turbine installation process.
"You can knock out about 80 to 90 percent of the acoustic energy and get it below levels where they're harmful to marine mammals," Hine emphasized.
This development comes in the wake of concerns about the growing harsh conditions in these oceanic zones due to the construction of wind farms. Recent whale deaths along the Eastern Seaboard have amplified these concerns, drawing sharp criticisms from Republican lawmakers and coastal residents.
While experts have attributed these mortalities to various factors like ship collisions, a booming humpback whale population, and fishing entanglements, the offshore wind industry found itself under an uncomfortable spotlight.
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