Offshore Wind Farms and the Sector of Tourism and Recreation: A Review of Conflicts and Synergies

Offshore Wind Farms (OWF) are emerging around the world as transformation drivers for countries seeking out energy autonomy and development while taking a stand in the fight against climate change. However, OWF projects can also generate externalities, especially in coastal cities which rely on Tourism and Recreation (T&R), sectors highly dependent on marine space and landscape, and the analysis of this mutual influence seems to persist outside the academic radar. To assess this possible research gap, articles published in the past 5 years about the sitting of offshore wind turbines in coastal areas with the characteristics above mentioned are analysed. As a result, possible conflicts and synergies were found in different parts of the world. Three factors result as the most relevant to determine the occurrence of conflicts: spatial limitation - location of the turbines, security flaws due to incompatible uses and depreciation of the landscape. In addition, the articles considered here become indicators of the current literary production on the subject and, thus, confirm the insufficient academic development of this topic. Overall, the occurrence of conflicts appears strongly linked to the lack of integration and communication between the sectors analysed throughout the different project stages. On the other hand, it is found that synergies based on T&R tend to obtain a greater degree of success; thus, the combinations between OWF and T&R are evaluated as possible and probably notorious and prosperous if an adequate mapping and management of coastal sectors is carried out. In conclusion, a meticulous and specific assessment of the tourist and recreational impacts generated by the installation of a potential offshore wind farm is considered an indispensable practice to be carried out in coastal areas with a high density of tourist and recreational activities in the search for sustainable and synergistic development.