In January 2026, the Helmholtz Center Hereon published the study “Cumulative hydrodynamic impacts of offshore wind farms on North Sea currents and surface temperatures”.
It presented a simulation of the long-term consequences of wind and tidal wakes caused by wind turbines in the North Sea, taking into account the strong expansion of offshore wind energy by 2050. In addition to these model simulations, initial scenarios and approaches were also presented in order to influence these changes from a technical and planning perspective.
In an NDR report on this study, Living Lab spokesperson Torsten Schlurmann categorized the results from the perspective of ongoing research in the Living Lab 70GW Offshore Wind. He emphasized that this early questioning and simulation can be helpful and groundbreaking. The results of the study represent an important aspect under which future research in the field and in the laboratory must investigate and validate the diverse changes and adaptations in marine physical and biological processes.
You can listen to the entire report here: NDR Wissen – Offshore wind farms change air and ocean currents
