After a Life at Sea

Abstract

The global push to mitigate climate change has accelerated the transition to renewable energy, with offshore technologies emerging as a promising solution to meet rising energy demands while reducing land use. Among these, offshore solar, an innovative approach leveraging the ocean’s abundant solar radiation, offers significant potential. However, harsh marine conditions pose challenges, particularly in terms of material degradation and end-of-life management. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of offshore solar systems across their life cycles, focusing on degradation under prolonged marine exposure and the implications of various end-of-life strategies for key components such as photovoltaic panels, floating structures, and mooring systems.

Using a prospective cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment, three degradation scenarios, low, medium, and high, were developed based on observed degradation mechanisms from offshore structures and terrestrial PV systems. Each scenario is linked to a distinct end-of-life strategy. Results show that environmental impacts are significantly influenced by material recovery rates rather than performance losses, with the reuse of PV modules in the low degradation scenario yielding the lowest environmental footprint. A backcasting analysis positions this low degradation scenario as a desirable future vision, emphasizing design for longevity, reuse, and circularity.

Key strategies identified include the use of advanced encapsulants, durable backsheets, anti-corrosion coatings, and marine-adapted cleaning technologies. This research underscores the importance of early-stage assessments to embed circular economy principles in offshore solar design, highlighting material innovation and sustainable end-of-life planning as critical to the long-term success of this emerging renewable technology.