Kusters, Juul (2020) A monoculture of windfarms or a sea of possibilities? Exploring multi-use implementation as a solution for efficient ocean planning in the Dutch North Sea. Master thesis.
|
Text
Kusters_FullThesis_AMonocultureOfWindfarmsOrASeaOfPossibilities.pdf Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
The spatial claim on the oceans is intensifying as many countries move offshore for various reasons. Particularly, offshore windfarms are expected to take over a large share of the North Sea due to the high pressure to meet renewable energy targets, use the more appropriate wind regime at sea and bypass the NIMBY syndrome on land. Still, space for other activities such as shipping, recreation and fisheries needs to be ensured. A multi-functional use of ocean space is a promising solution to efficiently manage space whilst also reducing environmental impact, enabling cost savings due to shared infrastructure and permitting procedures, and creating additional socio-economic benefits for the larger coastal region. This study aims to identify barriers and enablers to the implementation of multi-use in offshore windfarms in the Dutch North Sea and explores its implications for Dutch marine spatial planning processes. The Inter-Institutional Gap framework is adopted to explore formal and informal institutions on multiple scale levels and allows for cross-examination of those institutions. The findings show that legally multi-use implementation is enabled through formal institutional laws, regulations and practices. Still, informal institutionalized practices, such as a low-risk and hesitant attitude of OWE developers, a lack of offshore knowledge and experience and a lack of communication between developers and potential multi-users, hinder multi-use implementation. Overall, the results of this in-depth case study indicate the existence of an institutional void between formal laws and regulations and informal institutionalized practices and suggest the need for greater regulatory involvement by the government. For an efficient marine spatial planning practice where a future in which windfarms dominate the North Sea is prevented, the effects of informal institutionalized practices on formal governmental laws and objectives need to be recognized and dealt with.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Environmental & Infrastructure Planning |
| Supervisor: | Spijkerboer, R.C. |
| Date Deposited: | 29 Jul 2020 13:06 |
| Last Modified: | 29 Jul 2020 13:06 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3261 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |