To operate floating offshore wind turbines, we need to know what conditions are like far below the waves. Over a thousand feet beneath the surface, the ocean floor is mostly unmapped, with only scant knowledge about the geologic features present. 

Offshore wind developers are going to change that with autonomous underwater vehicles—basically drones of the ocean or underwater robots that can map the ocean floor.

Ciara Emery and Joel Southall of RWE join the EcoNews to talk about how they plan to study the bottom of the ocean and how the research will feed into the design of the project.

For more info:

• California Offshore Wind Energy Gateway
• Short Science Summary: Benthic & Pelagic Habitats  
• California Coastal Commission findings on Site Assessment activities (2022)

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