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2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power

  • Espen Moe and Mathias Shabanaj Jankila
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De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs
This chapter is in the book De Gruyter Handbook of Ocean Governance and Maritime Affairs

Abstract

Two thousand gigawatt of offshore wind power (OWP) is needed by 2050 for the world to stay below 1.5 °C of global warming. What are the prospects for OWP fuelling a green-blue economy? While still a niche, OWP’s technical potential is virtually limitless, and markets are projected to increase steadily. There are however many obstacles. The wind power industry is the main industrial actor, but still substantially depends on government support frameworks. Diversification from petroleum majors re-branding themselves as energy companies might contribute to a green-blue economy. However, the more invested energy incumbents are in petroleum, the less willing they are to diversify. Geopolitics is creating uncertainties. The invasion of Ukraine has brought increased OWP ambitions for many European countries but also less pressure on petroleum companies to phase out fossil fuels. Finally, OWP costs have recently increased significantly, pushing commercialization farther into the future. Despite recent setbacks, the chapter concludes that healthy long-term growth in OWP is expected. We may not reach 2000 GW, but OWP will deliver a major contribution to a green-blue economy.

Abstract

Two thousand gigawatt of offshore wind power (OWP) is needed by 2050 for the world to stay below 1.5 °C of global warming. What are the prospects for OWP fuelling a green-blue economy? While still a niche, OWP’s technical potential is virtually limitless, and markets are projected to increase steadily. There are however many obstacles. The wind power industry is the main industrial actor, but still substantially depends on government support frameworks. Diversification from petroleum majors re-branding themselves as energy companies might contribute to a green-blue economy. However, the more invested energy incumbents are in petroleum, the less willing they are to diversify. Geopolitics is creating uncertainties. The invasion of Ukraine has brought increased OWP ambitions for many European countries but also less pressure on petroleum companies to phase out fossil fuels. Finally, OWP costs have recently increased significantly, pushing commercialization farther into the future. Despite recent setbacks, the chapter concludes that healthy long-term growth in OWP is expected. We may not reach 2000 GW, but OWP will deliver a major contribution to a green-blue economy.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Content V
  3. Book introduction
  4. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  5. Section 1
  6. The political economy of the ocean 13
  7. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  8. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  9. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  10. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  11. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  12. Section 2
  13. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  14. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  15. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  16. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  17. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  18. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  19. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  20. Section 3
  21. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  22. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  23. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  24. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  25. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  26. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  27. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  28. Section 4
  29. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  30. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  31. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  32. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  33. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  34. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  35. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  36. Section 5
  37. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  38. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  39. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  40. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  41. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  42. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  43. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  44. Book conclusions
  45. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  46. Subject Index
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111195544-009

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Table of Content V
  3. Book introduction
  4. The oceans of the world – a source of shared development or rivalry for resources? 3
  5. Section 1
  6. The political economy of the ocean 13
  7. 1.1 Two Wars and a Pandemic: Global Shipping Markets in the Early-2020s 15
  8. 1.2 The state of world fisheries and fish farming 31
  9. 1.3 Shaping and framing deep seabed mining in the public interest: legitimacy, procedural justice, and distributive justice 45
  10. 1.4 The place of marine renewable energy in the ocean economy 63
  11. 1.5 Sustainable campus development and coastal ocean conservation in China’s Greater Bay Area: a higher education perspective 77
  12. Section 2
  13. Introduction: sustainability and the marine environment 91
  14. 2.1 A Green-Blue Economy? The case of offshore wind power 95
  15. 2.2 Ocean governance and climate change at the science-policy interface 115
  16. 2.3 Plastic never dies: finding a governance solution to the ubiquitous nature of microplastic pollution 129
  17. 2.4 The regulation of ABMTs under the BBNJ Agreement: potential contributions for the sustainable development of marine renewable energy technologies on the high seas 145
  18. 2.5 Risks and opportunities for the first green shipping corridor in the Arctic 161
  19. 2.6 Arctic shipping routes over the past 20 years 181
  20. Section 3
  21. Introduction: techno-economic development 197
  22. 3.1 Current status and future prospects of alternative fuel for ships 201
  23. 3.2 Decarbonization by wind propulsion for commercial ships 221
  24. 3.3 Wind ships in sustainable global supply chains: A future of Zero Carbon shipping 231
  25. 3.4 Digitalization and automation in the maritime industry: a case of sustainable development? 241
  26. 3.5 Carbon Capture and Storage: new opportunities for maritime clusters? 255
  27. 3.6 The freshwater-saltwater nexus: the ocean as a sustainable source of water? 271
  28. Section 4
  29. Introduction: Maritime infrastructure 287
  30. 4.1 Maritime hydrogen infrastructure and value chains in the decarbonization governance of shipping in Norway 289
  31. 4.2 North Sea grid integration: what’s there and what’s planned? 307
  32. 4.3 Arctic geopolitics and the future of regional infrastructure: the case of subsea cables 325
  33. 4.4 Canals: transport infrastructure and geopolitics 339
  34. 4.5 Between engineering and geopolitics: a study on island building as one kind of temaritime infrastructure 353
  35. 4.6 The ocean and the geopolitics of energy: a question of critical infrastructure? 379
  36. Section 5
  37. Introduction: ocean geopolitics 399
  38. 5.1 The global ocean and great power politics 401
  39. 5.2 Great powers and their naval ambitions: the geopolitical dimension of maritime affairs 415
  40. 5.3 Governing the ocean: technological change as a driver of maritime conflict 429
  41. 5.4 The politics of maritime boundary disputes 447
  42. 5.5 Could the unexploded ordnance hazard hinder the green energy transition − in the context of offshore wind projects? 467
  43. 5.6 The geopolitics of satellite navigation: the jamming and spoofing threat 485
  44. Book conclusions
  45. Cases in, along, across, below, on, and above the sea 501
  46. Subject Index
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