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Offshore wind energy development in the exclusive economic zone: Legal and policy supports and impediments in Germany and the US

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  • Portman, Michelle E.
  • Duff, John A.
  • Köppel, Johann
  • Reisert, Jessica
  • Higgins, Megan E.

Abstract

The development of renewable energy as a major component of efforts to combat climate change serves as the impetus for the location of energy production facilities in coastal ocean space. Yet, while many coastal nations see offshore renewable energy development as an important way forward, the speed and manner in which these efforts take shape vary dramatically. This paper assesses the role of coastal nations' domestic legal and policy frameworks in the siting of offshore renewable energy facilities in areas under federal jurisdiction. It focuses on two nations--Germany and the United States. Both have articulated their interest in renewable offshore energy, but while Germany has approved many offshore sites, recent US proposals have for the most part stalled. Based on a review of legal and policy documents, laws and regulations, academic literature, and interviews, this research identifies and compares factors that figure most prominently for the development of offshore renewable energy policies. Comparisons are organized under four categories: the regulatory framework, the public's role in siting, targeted economic mechanisms, and indirect mechanisms. The paper concludes with observations about prominent supports and impediments and suggestions for further research.

Suggested Citation

  • Portman, Michelle E. & Duff, John A. & Köppel, Johann & Reisert, Jessica & Higgins, Megan E., 2009. "Offshore wind energy development in the exclusive economic zone: Legal and policy supports and impediments in Germany and the US," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3596-3607, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:37:y:2009:i:9:p:3596-3607
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    6. Ho, Lip-Wah & Lie, Tek-Tjing & Leong, Paul TM & Clear, Tony, 2018. "Developing offshore wind farm siting criteria by using an international Delphi method," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 53-67.
    7. Carmel Anderson & Jacki Schirmer & Norman Abjorensen, 2012. "Exploring CCS community acceptance and public participation from a human and social capital perspective," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 687-706, August.
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    11. Mostafaeipour, Ali, 2010. "Productivity and development issues of global wind turbine industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 1048-1058, April.
    12. Liao, Zhongju, 2016. "The evolution of wind energy policies in China (1995–2014): An analysis based on policy instruments," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 464-472.
    13. Norman Hendrik Riedel & Miroslav Špaček, 2022. "Challenges of Renewable Energy Sourcing in the Process Industries: The Example of the German Chemical Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    14. Carr-Harris, Andrew & Lang, Corey, 2019. "Sustainability and tourism: the effect of the United States’ first offshore wind farm on the vacation rental market," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 51-67.
    15. Danny MacKinnon & Stuart Dawley & Markus Steen & Max-Peter Menzel & Asbjørn Karlsen & Pascal Sommer & Gard Hopsdal Hansen & Håkon Endresen Normann, 2018. "Path creation, global production networks and regional development: a comparative international analysis of the offshore wind sector," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 1810, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Feb 2018.
    16. Kendra Ryan & Andy Danylchuk & Adrian Jordaan, 2018. "Is Marine Spatial Planning Enough to Overcome Biological Data Deficiencies?," Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management (JEAPM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(04), pages 1-21, December.
    17. Toonen, Hilde M. & Lindeboom, Han J., 2015. "Dark green electricity comes from the sea: Capitalizing on ecological merits of offshore wind power?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1023-1033.
    18. Santiago Salvador & Xurxo Costoya & Francisco Javier Sanz-Larruga & Luis Gimeno, 2018. "Development of Offshore Wind Power: Contrasting Optimal Wind Sites with Legal Restrictions in Galicia, Spain," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-25, March.
    19. Weaver, Tyson, 2012. "Financial appraisal of operational offshore wind energy projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 5110-5120.
    20. Nordensvärd, Johan & Urban, Frauke, 2015. "The stuttering energy transition in Germany: Wind energy policy and feed-in tariff lock-in," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 156-165.
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    22. deCastro, M. & Salvador, S. & Gómez-Gesteira, M. & Costoya, X. & Carvalho, D. & Sanz-Larruga, F.J. & Gimeno, L., 2019. "Europe, China and the United States: Three different approaches to the development of offshore wind energy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 55-70.

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