China's wind farms are changing nearby marine habitats

A December 2025 study reported that offshore wind farms in Chinese waters were associated with increased benthic fish biomass and other physical, chemical, and biological changes to coastal waters.

China has expanded wind and solar capacity rapidly, and renewables overtook coal as the world's largest electricity source in 2025, according to a BBC report citing Ember. A December 2025 study published in Global Ecology and Conservation examined offshore wind farms in Chinese waters and their effects on coastal marine environments. The researchers used biological and environmental survey data collected in 2022 and 2023 and developed ecopath models for a wind farm area and a nearby control area. The study reported that offshore wind farms can bring notable physical, chemical, and biological changes to surrounding waters. Study findings: - Researchers compared an offshore wind farm area and a nearby control area using survey data from 2022–2023 and ecopath models. - Reportedly, benthic fish biomass in the wind farm area was almost doubled compared to the control area, a finding attributed to Dalian Ocean University Associate Professor Zhongxin Wu as quoted by Murdoch University. - Turbine structures can hinder trawling and provide hard surfaces where organisms such as oysters can attach, which may support local food webs. - The study also noted potential negative effects from installation and operation, including physical damage, noise pollution, electromagnetic interference, and habitat fragmentation affecting benthic invertebrates, fish, and marine mammals. Summary: The study indicates that offshore wind farms in the examined Chinese sites are associated with increased local benthic fish biomass and other ecological changes. At the same time, installation and operational processes can introduce disturbances and risks for some species. Undetermined at this time.