title: Renewables-to-reefs? - Decommissioning options for the offshore wind power industry.
abstract: The offshore wind power industry is relatively new but increasing globally, hence it is important that the whole life-cycle is managed. The construction-operation-decommissioning cycle is likely to take 20-30 years and whilst decommissioning may not be undertaken for many years, its management needs to be addressed in both current and future marine management regimes. This can be defined within a Drivers-Activities-Pressures-State Changes-Impacts (on human Welfare)-Responses framework. This paper considers the main decommissioning options - partial or complete removal of all components. A SWOT analysis shows environmental and economic benefits in partial as opposed to complete removal, especially if habitat created on the structures has conservation or commercial value. Benefits (and repercussions) are defined in terms of losses and gains of ecosystem services and societal benefits. The legal precedents and repercussions of both options are considered in terms of the 10-tenets of sustainable marine management. Finally a 'renewables-to-reefs' programme is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK. Electronic address: k.smyth@hull.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Katie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smyth
authors.affiliation: The Law School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Nikki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burdon
authors.affiliation: The Business School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Atkins
authors.affiliation: The Law School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Estuarine & Coastal Studies (IECS), University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000639:trends; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005544:Forecasting; D059205:Renewable Energy; D014919:Wind
keywords: DPSIR framework; Decommissioning; Ecosystem services assessment; Offshore wind power; Renewables-to-reefs; SWOT analysis