Critical environmental factors in offshore wind–hydrogen projects : Uruguay’s exclusive economic zone

Rivas, Luisa - González, Alice Elizabeth - Gutiérrez, Alejandro

Resumen:

Green hydrogen is a promising solution for decarbonizing emission-intensive sectors, with its production through offshore wind energy offering viable opportunities. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the main environmental factors potentially affected by offshore wind and green hydrogen projects in Uruguay’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), where such developments pose environmental challenges that require evaluation, particularly given the limited prior research in Uruguay and Latin America. Through a comprehensive review of international literature and national technical data, the study identifies key interactions between project activities and the physical, biotic, and anthropic environmental components during the development, construction, and operational phases. Using cross-reference matrices and impact categorization, the analysis highlights that activities such as foundation installation, submarine cable deployment, and offshore electrolysis could significantly affect the seabed, underwater noise levels, water quality, and marine biodiversity. The biotic and physical environment were found to be the most frequently impacted. To contextualize these findings, technical information specific to Uruguay’s EEZ was reviewed to identify the most vulnerable regional environmental factors. The results offer a science-based foundation to support early-stage environmental assessments and guide sustainable offshore energy development in the region.

Detalles Bibliográficos
2025
Green hydrogen
Environmental impact
Offshore wind energy
Electrolysis
Desalination
Inglés
Universidad de la República
COLIBRI
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/13/6096
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12008/52803
Acceso abierto
Licencia Creative Commons Atribución (CC - By 4.0)