The Trend of Offshore Wind Farms: Alternatives for Wind Farms Decommissioning

Objectives: This study investigates best practices for sustainably decommissioning Offshore Wind Farms (OWFs) in Brazil, considering environmental and economic aspects and addressing regulatory and planning gaps. Theoretical Framework: The study is grounded in literature on decommissioning offshore infrastructure, primarily from oil and gas sectors, and recent insights into OWFs. Method: A qualitative and exploratory approach was adopted, including an extensive literature review and an online survey distributed to 150 international experts, resulting in 62 valid responses. Results and Discussion: The findings reveal a strong preference among experts for partial removal and recycling as the most sustainable decommissioning approach for OWFs, with 63.6% of respondents ranking these options as highly or more favorable compared to full removal. In addition, environmental criteria such as reef habitat provision and biodiversity enhancement were ranked highest relative to economic and technical considerations, reinforcing the importance of ecological benefits in decommissioning decisions. Despite a lack of regulatory clarity in Brazil, most respondents supported more flexible, context-driven decommissioning strategies that recognize the ecological value of artificial marine structures. Research Implications: The study underscores the urgent need for regulatory frameworks in Brazil to guide OWF decommissioning, incorporating ecological, economic, and logistical dimensions. Originality/Value: This is one of the first studies to explore OWF decommissioning in Brazil through an expert-based lens, providing a comparative analysis with offshore oil and gas practices. The results offer valuable insights for policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders in shaping sustainable offshore infrastructure policies in emerging wind energy markets.