On March 18, 2024, an online discussion was held within the WIND LAB #2: Just Development of Wind Energy in Northeast Bulgaria” (within JustWind4All project), dedicated to the visual effects of offshore wind farms in Northeast Bulgaria. Participants focused on exploring this important aspect of wind energy development and their intention to create a framework for equitable development in the region.
The purpose of the Laboratory is to bring together stakeholders for discussion and generation of ideas for wind energy development. The project, supported by the European Commission’s Horizon program and involving six different countries, focuses on the visual effects of offshore wind farms and seeks solutions that work for the various stakeholders, from project developers to municipal authorities and citizens .
The visual effect of offshore wind farms is one of the important aspects to consider when planning and developing such installations. This issue was examined in detail during the second edition of the Wind Ideas Lab, which took place within the framework of the Horizon program of the European Commission.
One of the key takeaways from the discussion is that consideration of visual noise should be included in the planning and development process of wind energy projects. Various factors such as lighting, reflection, turbine positioning and observation height play an important role in how these projects will affect the environment and vision of the region.
Software modeling and visualization can help determine the optimal placement and arrangement of turbines, as well as predict and reduce their visual impact. The use of images from already existing wind farms provides valuable opportunities to analyze the visual effect from different perspectives and under different atmospheric conditions.
It is also important to discuss the various aspects of legislation that affect the issue of visual noise and to involve the various stakeholders in the decision-making process. This includes holding public consultations and meetings with citizens, the business sector and municipal authorities to obtain feedback and suggestions for the visual planning of wind energy projects.
The responsible institutions should form a team of experts and stakeholders to continue further discussions on the visual impact of offshore wind farms. We also need further research into the atmospheric conditions that affect the visual effect of wind turbines.
In conclusion, it is clear that the issue of the visual impact of offshore wind farms is essential and requires a comprehensive approach and careful planning. Only in this way can we ensure that the development of wind energy will be sustainable and in line with the interests of all stakeholders.
Presentation for the Offshore Wind Farms Visual Effects, presented by Ms. Mariya Trifonova, Chief Assistant Professor at Sofia University and lead expert in th eproject, you can find here:
