Presentations
Project: DeMiR Decommissioning - Minimization of Risks / Case Study: Carbon consequences of offshore wind decommissioning: a scenario-based assessment of end-of-life strategies in the North Sea
Lisbeth Jürgensen, Scientist, Hochschule Bremen, City University of Applied Sciences
Abstract
As a substantial share of existing capacity approaches or exceeds its typical 20–25-year design lifetime, decommissioning is set to become increasingly important. However, this phase remains underexplored, characterized by a lack of standardized methodologies, high uncertainties in cost and emissions estimates, and simplifying assumptions, such as treating decommissioning as merely the reverse of installation (Topham & McMillan, 2017, Garcia-Teruel et al., 2022). Against this backdrop, this paper develops a scenario-based framework to assess greenhouse gas emissions from offshore wind farm decommissioning in the North Sea. By introducing representative wind farm classes and explicitly modeling key processes, including dismantling strategies, transport logistics, and recycling pathways, the study enables a systematic comparison of emissions across different technical configurations and end-of-life strategies. This study provides researchers and project planners with insights into environmental impact variations from offshore wind decommissioning, complementing techno-economic analyses with a carbon-focused perspective.
