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RWE’s Kaskasi offshore wind farm has achieved a European first: a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera system has been used for offshore environmental monitoring. This method offers a low-emission and less intrusive alternative to traditional aircraft- and ship-based surveys of birds and marine mammals.
The drone is part of RWE’s SeaMe (Sustainable Ecosystem Approach in Monitoring the Marine Environment) project, which aims to build a holistic understanding of how offshore wind farms interact with marine ecosystems. Alongside the drone, the project is deploying a range of cutting-edge monitoring technologies, including:
- an AI-powered fish detection system mounted on an autonomous underwater vehicle,
- high-resolution video cameras installed on turbines to study bird behavior, and
- environmental DNA analysis from water samples.
Launched in autumn 2024 with onshore testing, SeaMe has now entered its next phase: simultaneous offshore data collection at the Kaskasi wind farm, located 35 kilometers off Heligoland. With an installed capacity of 342 MW, Kaskasi generates enough renewable electricity to supply around 400,000 German homes. From its base on Heligoland, a dedicated RWE team oversees the operation and maintenance of the wind farm, while supporting the implementation of SeaMe.
