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Chemical and Thermal Pollution Impacts from Off-shore Wind Turbines


Every country that pushes wind turbines wants them off the coast, out of the way, far from view. You'd think that would be fine. Except for the THERMAL AND CHEMICAL POLLUTION.

It's actually quite difficult to find accurate information about how much pollution turbines release into the ocean and the other effects on marine life.

Here is part of an article written in 2021 about wind turbine effects on Lake Erie:

Wind Turbine-borne contaminants
Beyond disturbing the sediment for construction and transmission line installation, two
additional emerging contaminants are found to be shed by operational wind turbines – bisphenol A and neodymium.
  • Bisphenol A is the primary ingredient in industrial epoxies and is extensively used in turbine blade construction to keep the blades as lightweight as possible.
  • Due to what is known as leading edge erosion, this chemical, a known endocrine inhibitor is damaging to reproductive health in both people and fish.
  • Half-life in air is roughly 0.2 days.
  • In water, however, bisphenol A persists for a very long time - duration not yet known.
  • It is not readily diminished in live tissues, and its presence does suggest bioaccumulation over time. Studies in France have found the landscape completely contaminated with this substance, causing infertility and other reproductive problems in the communities.
  • Neodymium is the primary rare earth metal used in the permanent magnets contained in the nacelle of each turbine, with up to a ton or more of this metal contained in each nacelle.
  • Due to erosion from the turbine spinning, neodymium dust is shed from the turbines, and studies in Norway and other heavy wind power dependent Nations have found this toxic metal in the hair of cattle, wildlife, in plants and even in people living near wind factories.
  • OSHA has established protocols to protect workers who come in contact with this metal, as external skin contact can result in severe rashes.
  • Unknown what impacts this metal has when inhaled or ingested, but if it causes skin irritation externally, internal impacts cannot be desirable.
  • Wind turbines also hold petroleum-based lubricants to assure metal components do not seize up. The gear boxes require annual “oil changes”. Nacelles over time see the gaskets deteriorate causing the gear oil to leak into the environment.
  • Deicing in winter and glycol potentials, a known toxin to wildlife and people. How will this be addressed?
(Pollution, Contaminants, Threats Posed by Industrial Wind
Turbines, and the Economic Realities of Offshore Wind
By Rich Davenport, Sportsman’s Advocate and Conservationist, and Mike Boismenu, PE November 15, 2021) 

This article goes on to discuss the economic viability of wind turbine power generation with some very interesting statistics.
Full article
 
 A very balanced article about oil leaks can be found here: oil leaks article


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