Renewables-to-reefs? - Decommissioning options for the offshore wind power industry

Area of Science:

• Marine engineering
• Environmental science
• Sustainable energy management

Background:

• The offshore wind power industry is rapidly expanding globally.
• Effective management of the entire lifecycle, from construction to decommissioning (20-30 years), is essential.
• Decommissioning strategies must be integrated into current and future marine management plans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the primary decommissioning options for offshore wind structures: partial versus complete removal.
• To evaluate the environmental and economic implications of each decommissioning strategy.
• To assess the legal precedents and consequences of different decommissioning approaches within sustainable marine management frameworks.

Main Methods:

• Application of the Drivers-Activities-Pressures-State Changes-Impacts (on human Welfare)-Responses (DAPSI(W)R) framework.
• Conducting a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of decommissioning options.
• Evaluating ecosystem services and societal benefits/losses associated with each option.
• Reviewing legal precedents and the 10 tenets of sustainable marine management.

Main Results:

• Partial removal presents significant environmental and economic benefits compared to complete removal.
• Decommissioning decisions impact ecosystem services and societal benefits, with partial removal potentially preserving valuable artificial habitats.
• Legal considerations favor approaches that align with sustainable marine management principles.

Conclusions:

• Partial decommissioning of offshore wind structures can be environmentally and economically advantageous.
• The 'renewables-to-reefs' program is proposed as a sustainable model for offshore wind decommissioning.
• Integrating ecological and economic considerations into decommissioning strategies is vital for long-term marine ecosystem health and human welfare.