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A new study suggests that decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs. Researchers carried out a comprehensive analysis of existing studies on the environmental impacts of marine offshore structures – including oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms – worldwide. It highlighted that such installations could offer some ecological benefits – including increasing the diversity and abundance of fish species – in areas where the seafloor is mostly comprised of sand. However, there was limited conclusive evidence that oil and gas platforms and offshore wind farms could provide further substantial benefits if they are left in the sea after being decommissioned. #OffshoreStructures #OceanEnergy #OffshoreWindFarms #Sustainability Click the link below to discover more ⬇ https://bit.ly/3TOalBt

Examining the impact of decommissioned offshore structures A new study suggests that decommissioned offshore structures offer limited long-term ecological benefits if they are simply left in the ocean to serve as artificial reefs. FIND OUT MORE: https://lnkd.in/eRawnM5v #Decommissioning #OffshoreOilandGas #OilandGasNews #ArtificialReefs #OilandGasJobs

I am happy to anounce that our new publication is now available online. Multi-use offshore farms have the potential to address marine space limitations and stimulate collaborations and new economic opportunities. However, its environmental impacts are not yet well understood. This study aims to quantify the potential environmental impacts a multi-use offshore farm, which combines an offshore wind farm and a mussel farm, by performing a Life Cycle Assessment. This research forms part of the SUMES project. Thanks very much to all the co-authors. This work would not have been possible without the hard work and contributions of Bilge Baş Sue Ellen Taelman Sander van den Burg Jo Dewulf. #Sustainability #BlueEconomy #Multiuse #LifeCycleAssessment

While some may view NOAA Fisheries' strategic science plan as overdue, it's a positive and necessary step towards understanding the environmental implications of offshore wind development. The initiative acknowledges the complexities of the West Coast's deep waters and the need for innovative floating wind turbine platforms. The plan thoughtfully addresses six key research areas, recognizing the critical nature of habitats like upwelling zones and the potential effects of wind farm infrastructure on marine life. It's a forward-thinking approach that considers not just the immediate physical and physiological impacts, such as noise and electromagnetic fields, but also the broader changes in marine life abundance and distribution. NOAA's commitment to exploring the socioeconomic impacts on fisheries and communities reflects a deep understanding of the transformative nature of offshore wind development. The agency's efforts to study ecosystem and climate interactions demonstrate a conscientious approach to assessing the long-term and cumulative effects of wind farms. By incorporating innovative technologies like autonomous undersea gliders and prioritizing partnerships with West Coast tribes, NOAA is championing a collaborative and inclusive research ethos. This initiative is about more than just advancing offshore wind energy; it's about doing so responsibly and with a commitment to protecting our marine ecosystems and supporting the communities that rely on them. #OffshoreWind #RenewableEnergy #NOAAFisheries #EnvironmentalStewardship #SustainableDevelopment

New multi-use publication out, with many thanks to Laura Vittoria De Luca, Bilge Bas, Jo Dewulf and Sue Ellen Taelman for leading this LCA study. . It is unclear what the environmental impact of maritime multi-use is, from a life-cycle perspective, where there is potential to create synergies in the value chains, and how similar the impact compares to currently used alternatives. Therefore, this study performs a Life Cycle Assessment on a combination of a full scale existing wind energy farm and a mussel farm design. Mainly the supply chain of materials required to manufacture its components followed by the operational activities of the multi-use offshore farm contribute to the environmental footprint. Moreover, taking advantage of joint activities, i.e. combined transport between the wind and mussel farm during operational activities (Scenario 1) and at decommissioning phase (Scenario 2) did not show a significant reduction in the overall net impacts of a multi-use farm. interesting for ULTFARMS?

🚨Wildlife protection on the coasts of Scotland becomes a major factor hindering the🇬🇧UK transition strategy. How could we protect seabird colonies while building large-scale offshore wind projects close to breeding grounds? The energy transition meets ecological transition. Scotland is the most important territorial component of the UK Net-Zero strategy. The long costs on the North Sea are set to host numerous offshore wind projects and further increase the share of wind energy into the UK energy mix. In November, the ScotWind Leasing round, Option Agreements were presented for 20 new offshore wind farm projects. The total capacity of these new projects stand at an outstanding excess of 27 GW. The total amount of financial commitments is close to £28.8 billion, or an average of £1.5bn investment per single project built. Still, Scottish authorities highlighted the potential for significant and negative impacts on the population of seabirds. The areas are under the highest levels of ornithological constraint and developers should produce evidence to lower impacts at an acceptable level.  The latest delay for the Berwick Bank project, a 4.1 GW wind power project offshore the city of Dundee, could also be related to bird colonies. The Scottish government has not yet granted the project's approval, which means that 11GW of new offshore wind by 2030 won't be met.

Very interesting paper on LCA of multi-use offshore farm 👇

(archive: 2007) Conservation of British Cetaceans #GBR: The Conservation of British Cetaceans: A Review of the Threats and Protection Afforded to Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises in UK Waters (EXTRACT) 1.3.2.1.7. Windfarms In order to provide a source of renewable energy for the UK, there has been considerable investment in the development of alternative technologies and, in particular, windfarms. Due to competition over land use, land-based windfarms are becoming harder to site, therefore attention has become focused on marine windfarms. Although, on the one hand, being a renewable . . . #windpower #windenergy

North Sea Transition Authority – Overview Report 2024 - Decommissioning   From my standpoint the report is a curate’s egg. (https://lnkd.in/eAnHgJXT)   It has given me much to write about and this post focuses on decommissioning.   The National Audit Office estimates the cost to the taxpayer for supporting decommissioning to be around £24 billion. (https://lnkd.in/eBD3T7aw) When numerous reports show the benefits of man-made structures to marine ecosystems, the question to the NSTA is - why are we removing marine structures at taxpayers’ expense? Where evidence supported, why don’t we leave the structures in place and use the money saved for GHG management projects? Of course activities like well P&A must be undertaken but there is a significant slice of taxpayers’ money that could be saved – around £3-5 billion. The reason for removal is a legislative mandate. Is the law an ass? I discuss the decommissioning framework in this The Conversation article. I also discussed my thoughts with a Scottish Energy Minister. He said he would get back to me. He never did. https://lnkd.in/duAVxiW

#WindPower #BladeFailure #VineyardWindProject #GEVernova "The federal agency that suspended the Vineyard Wind project following the July 13 blade failure is now requiring the company to complete a new study evaluating the "environmental harm" caused by the incident in the waters southwest of Nantucket, according to a document obtained by Nantucket Current. In a Sept. 27 letter from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) addressed to Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Moeller, the agency ordered the offshore wind energy company to "conduct a site-specific study that evaluates the environmental harm and other potential damage flowing from" the blade failure, and to identify potential mitigation measures for that damage. The order was obtained by Nantucket Current through a Freedom of Information Act request to the U.S. Department of the Interior. The Vineyard Wind project remains under a suspension order from BSEE following the disastrous turbine blade failure on July 13 that left Nantucket's beaches littered with foam and fiberglass debris. That order was modified in August to allow Vineyard Wind to continue installing turbine towers and nacelles, but it is forbidden from producing power or installing blades. According to the BSEE order signed Kathryn Kovacs, the deputy assistant secretary for land and minerals management at the U.S. Department of the Interior who is exercising the delegated authorities of the BSEE Director, Vineyard Wind was required to submit a plan for the study on Oct. 11, but was eligible to appeal the order. It's not yet clear if the company appealed the order or not. Both Vineyard Wind and BSEE officials did not immediately return requests for comment on Wednesday. The required study "should characterize the subsea debris field resulting from the blade failure and the potential impacts or damage to onshore, coastal, and offshore resources from the blade debris." ... Vineyard Wind and GE Vernova have just begun the retrieval of the blade debris from the sea floor around the damaged turbine, an effort that is being led by the contracted salvage company Resolve Marine. While the order imposes another hurdle on Vineyard Wind in the aftermath of the blade failure, it may not represent a further delay in resuming construction activities. In the order sent to Vineyard Wind, BSEE stated that the required study is "separate and distinct" from its suspension order, and that construction activities currently prohibited may resume prior to the completion of the study if the suspension order is modified or lifted. ..."