Visual Impact of Offshore Windtowers is a key concern of many nearby residents – and the proposed area for Illawarra Offshore Windtowers is depicted below
https://greatergippslandlandscape.com/ – ABC News
Visual impact modelling has been done for the Gippsland area.
Some wind towers have been proposed to be painted with dark colours or stripes to avoid impacts on Migratory Birds – however such stripes would increase the visual impact of offshore wind towers – https://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5857574686818304
Wales
Seascape and visual sensitivity to offshore wind farms in Wales:Strategic assessment and guidance –
- Stage 1- Ready reckoner of visual effects related to turbine size
- Stage 2 – Guidance on siting offshore windfarms
Offshore Wind Turbine Visibility and Visual Impact Threshold Distances
An assessment of the sensitivity and capacity of the Scottish seascape in relation to offshore windfarms – This study will extend that work by considering the implications of offshore windfarms on the seascape and visual character of Scottish coastlines.The key objectives for this study are therefore:1.To develop, agree and apply a methodology for the strategic assessment of seascape sensitivity to, and capacity for, offshore windfarm development.2.To relate the findings of the assessment to relevant SNH policies and make recommendations for the seascape dimension of SNH locational guidance for offshore windfarms
Is there a market for Energy Tourism to Offshore Wind Farms?
- New Jersey paper – Tourism based on offshore wind farms is already in operation in the Baltic and North Seas, and additional projects are under consideration or in development in countries such as Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, and the United Kingdom. For instance, Thorntonbank in Belgium is operational and attracts approximately 10,000 people per year for boat tours to local offshore wind farms (Bocci et al., 2018). The Bremerhaven Economic Development Company (BIS) in Germany (North Sea) offers a guided excursion called ‘Tour de Wind’ which includes boat tours to visit offshore wind farms and bus tours connecting entire supply chain of offshore wind energy. In Middelgrunden, Denmark, tourists have the option to climb a 60-meter tower on one of the turbines among other activities, including an offshore information center and boat tours (Varona et al., 2017a; Bocci et al., 2018) (Figure 4). On National Turbine Day, which takes place every two years in Denmark, members and guests are also given the opportunity to tour inside the turbines.
A Mavens Magnets 