New open access publication and interactive map “Global assessment of historical, current and forecast ocean energy infrastructure”

A new open access interactive map and publication presents a global assessment of historical, current and forecast ocean energy infrastructure. The paper, co-authored by IROE Chair Susan Gourvenec and University of Southampton colleagues Fraser Sturt, Archaeology and Emily Reid, Law, and Federico Trigos from the Business School of Technologico de Monterrey, Mexico, is published open access in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews.

The study created a comprehensive global dataset of past, current and forecast ocean energy infrastructure and offshore energy resources, both hydrocarbon and wind, for the period 1960–2040. This data is collected together for the first time and made available in the public domain through an interactive online map. The resulting oceanscape provides insight into the type, quantity, density and geographic centres of the accumulating asset base, which in turn enables informed consideration of how marine space alongside design and end-of-engineered-life of ocean infrastructure can be managed responsibly and sustainably. Technical, economic, environmental, social and legislative considerations relevant in shaping the future design and decommissioning agenda for ocean energy infrastructure are discussed, emphasising the need for balance between each to ensure responsible and sustainable management of our oceans in the transition to renewable energy.

You can read the full paper here. 

Interact with the map here or by clicking on the map below.