Offshore development in Germany -- The alpha ventus offshore test site -- The RAVE research initiative -- The StUKplus research project -- Sensitive species and habitats -- Research on oceanography, geology, benthic organisms, fish, resting birds, bird migration, marine mammals, underwater sound -- Noise mitigation systems -- Cumulative effects. At present and over the next few years, large-scale windfarms are being installed far off the coast of Germany in the North and Baltic Sea, making a major contribution to electricity generation from renewable energy sources. One of the German government's aims is to ensure the environmentally sound and sustainable development of offshore wind energy. Germany's first offshore test site, alpha ventus, was therefore accompanied from the construction phase to the first years of operation by an intensive environmental research programme, the StUKplus project, financed by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and coordinated by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency. Marine and ecological aspects have been researched there for more than five years to improve the level of knowledge about the ecological impacts of offshore windfarms. This book provides a broad, richly illustrated overview of applied and new research methods and monitoring techniques. It summarises the key research findings on the impacts on benthic communities, fish, marine mammals and birds, also taking into account underwater sound and sediment measurements. Interpreting the results in the sense of lessons learned, new challenges and perspectives are discussed for future sustainable offshore development in German waters. Content Offshore development in Germany * The alpha ventus offshore test site * The RAVE research initiative * The StUKplus research project * Sensitive species and habitats * Research on oceanography, geology, benthic organisms, fish, resting birds, bird migration, marine mammals, underwater sound * Noise mitigation systems * Cumulative effects Target readership Research institutes, environmental consultancies working on offshore wind energy, decision makers in politics, representatives of wind energy operators, NGOs of marine nature protection Authors Scientists of renowned research institutes, environmental consultancies and federal authorities, edited by Anika Beiersdorf and Katrin Wollny-Goerke Published by Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU)