Objective The new DC marine grounding transmission system has the advantages such as simple structure, low cost and high reliability, which is theoretically suitable the ocean wind power transmission needs in the deep and distant sea. Research on the interaction between ocean grounding electrode and marine ecosystem in China is still blank. This paper discusses the important research directions to contribute to the promotion of the new DC ocean grounding system in China.

Method The article adopted a systematic analysis approach to analyse and summarise the implications of warming, electrical currents, corrosion-induced changes in water quality and changes in the currents caused during the operation of the new DC ocean grounding electrode might have on the marine ecosystem, as well as the counteracting effects of corrosion, ocean currents and fouling organisms on the electrodes of the marine environment.

Result It is analysed that the implications of the new DC ocean grounding electrode on the marine ecosystem are as follows: the continuous temperature rise zone near the electrode affects the life, development and reproduction of marine organisms; The constant electrical currents near the electrode causes the accelerated departure of fish in the vicinity; the dissolved substances of the electrode may be absorbed by marine organisms, which affects the safety of marine food and biodiversity; And the change in the ocean currents near the electrode may promote seawater exchange of substances, altering the swimming performance of fish. At the same time, the marine environment, with its high corrosiveness, strong ocean currents and multiple characteristics of fouling organisms, causes loss of grounding electrodes, affecting the robustness, lifetime and transmission efficiency of the system.

Conclusion To address the above-mentioned interactions between marine grounding electrodes and the marine ecosystem, on the one hand, suitable research objects should be selected, common quantitative research methods and monitoring sensors from different disciplines should be used to quantitatively assess the effects of the temperature rise, the DC currents, the variations of ocean currents and the dissolved substances of the electrode material on the quality of seawater and marine organisms caused by grounding electrodes to explore the corresponding protective measures. On the other hand, an interdisciplinary approach should be adopted to quantify the corrosion process of commonly used marine grounding electrode materials, to analyse the impact of ocean currents on grounding electrodes, and to develop environmentally friendly anti-fouling technologies for the impact of fouling organisms.