Offshore energy generation is a rapidly growing sector, competing for space in an already busy seascape. This book brings together the ecological, economic and social implications of the spatial conflict this growth entails. Covering all energy-generation types (wind, wave, tidal, oil, and gas), it explores the direct and indirect impacts the growth of offshore energy generation has on both the marine environment and the existing uses of marine space.
Chapters cover the main issues associated with offshore energy, such as the displacement of existing activities and the negative impacts it can have on marine species and ecosystems, including marine mammals, birds and fish. It is shown that while the growth in offshore energy generation is driven by increasing energy demand, it also presents new opportunities for collaboration and co-location with other sectors, for example the co-location of wild-capture fisheries and windfarms.
The book integrates all of the key issues and opportunities and demonstrates the importance of holistic marine planning for optimising the location of energy-generation sites. It demonstrates the importance of stakeholder engagement in these planning processes and the role of integrated governance, including case studies from US, UK and Mediterranean waters. It also discusses trade-off analysis and decision theory, and provides a range of tools and best practices to inform future planning processes.
