Offshore wind decommissioning regulations and workflows in the Outer Continental Shelf United States

Decommissioning regulations for offshore renewable energy facilities require that all facilities be removed and the seafloor cleared of all obstructions at the end of the life of the lease. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the expected workflows and stages of decommissioning that are likely to arise for offshore wind farms, to describe the exposure and liability of the parties involved and to compare offshore wind and oil and gas decommissioning. An alternative method for turbine removal is proposed which, if feasible, will reduce decommissioning cost. The objectives of a bonding program are motivated and discussed.