Simulating the biogeochemical footprint of offshore solar parks

Offshore floating solar parks are emerging as a promising renewable energy technology, but we still know very little about how they may affect the marine environmental beneath and around them. In particular, their influence on biogeochemical processes such as light availability, primary production, and pelagic and benthic nutrient dynamics remains largely unexplored. In this work, we use a coupled GETM-ERSEM-BFM modeling framework to study the biogeochemical footprint of offshore solar parks. We have developed a 3D nested model system, starting with a regional 5 km resolution model and refining it to a high resolution 500 m domain that focuses on the solar park area. This setup allows us to capture both Rhine plume dynamics and seasonal variability along Dutch coast, while also resolving smaller-scale processes that are important close to the solar parks.

We present first results from the nested model, showing how physical conditions and key biogeochemical variables respond to the presence of floating solar installations. The initial simulations indicate localized changes near the surface, particularly related to light, which in turn influence biological activity. To build confidence in the model setup, we also include preliminary validation by comparing the nested model results with reference simulations and available data. Although these results are still exploratory, they demonstrate the potential of high resolution nested models to investigate environmental effects of offshore solar parks and form a basis for more detailed impact studies in the future.