RWE’s Kaskasi offshore wind farm has achieved a European milestone in environmental protection: for the first time, a drone equipped with a high-resolution camera system has been deployed for offshore ecosystem monitoring.
This innovation is part of RWE’s SeaMe project (Sustainable ecosystem approach in Monitoring the marine environment), which leverages advanced technologies to study the interaction between offshore wind farms and marine ecosystems in a more sustainable, non-intrusive, and low-emission way.
Drones Replace Aircraft for Marine Monitoring
The long-range Primoco UAV One 150, operated by BioConsult SH, was flown over Kaskasi and neighboring wind farms, recording aerial footage of birds and marine mammals from 500 meters above sea level. Equipped with HiDef video systems, the drone offers the same precision as traditional aerial surveys while reducing the carbon footprint of monitoring activities by up to 90 percent compared with airplanes and ships.
AI-Driven Monitoring Above and Below the Sea
The SeaMe project also integrates cutting-edge technologies:
Bird Monitoring with AI: Six high-resolution cameras installed on turbines provide 24/7 bird tracking. AI-based software from Norwegian company Spoor enables accurate detection, identification, and behavior analysis of birds, even at night using infrared and thermal imaging.
Underwater Observation: Long-term autonomous underwater cameras developed with Danish start-up Anemo Robotics capture marine fauna activities. Unlike traditional methods, this approach is non-invasive and provides year-round ecological insights.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV): Developed by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), the AUV uses cameras, sonar, and sensors to detect fish, mammals, and benthic animals while recording environmental conditions like temperature and salinity.
Environmental DNA and Ecosystem Analysis
Beyond visual monitoring, the project collects environmental DNA (eDNA) samples to detect species without physical capture. Early tests near Heligoland identified 143 species, including plankton, crabs, fish, and harbour porpoises. Partner institutes such as HIFMB and the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) lead this advanced biodiversity analysis.
Data Integration and Collaboration
All monitoring data is consolidated into a user-friendly digital portal developed by Danish company DHI A/S, providing researchers with comprehensive access to biological and physical ecosystem data.
The SeaMe project is backed by leading research partners, including:
Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB)
Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI)
BioConsult SH
Spoor (Norway)
DHI A/S (Denmark)
Anemo Robotics (Denmark)
German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Wind Power and Nature in Harmony
Thomas Michel, COO RWE Offshore Wind, said: “As a global leading player in offshore wind, we feel responsible for building and operating our wind farms in harmony with nature. With the SeaMe project, we are embracing new technologies that enable us to simultaneously monitor a range of different factors and gain a deeper understanding of offshore wind’s interaction with marine ecosystems.”
Kaskasi: Green Energy and Sustainability Hub
Located 35 km off the coast of Heligoland, the 342 MW Kaskasi offshore wind farm supplies clean energy to about 400,000 German homes. The site now also serves as a testbed for the future of eco-friendly offshore monitoring, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Faheema P