The impact of offshore wind farms on beach recreation demand: Policy intake from an economic study on the Catalan coast. (July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voltaire, Louinord; Loureiro, Maria L.; Knudsen, Camilla; Nunes, Paulo A.L.D
• Is Part Of: Marine policy. Volume 81(2017)
• Page Start: 116
• Page End: 123
• Publication Date: 2017-07
• Subjects: Beach recreation demand -- Mixed revealed and stated preference approach -- Count data model -- Offshore wind farms -- Coastal tourism -- Consumer surplus loss; Marine resources -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Fisheries -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Aspect économique -- Périodiques; Pêches -- Périodiques; Fisheries; Marine resources -- Economic aspects; Periodicals; 333.916405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2017.03.019
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-597X

Abstract

Abstract: Offshore wind energy development can have major economic implications because of the potential impact on coastal recreation demand – particularly for countries that are characterised by high offshore wind power potential while also being popular tourist destinations. In this context, the impact of offshore wind farm projects on beach recreation demand in Catalonia (Spain) during the 2012 summer season was examined. A combined revealed and stated preference approach, which allows joint modelling of actual and hypothetical demands, was applied. The results demonstrate a significant welfare loss up to €203 million per season. The results further show that the installation of a wind farm mainly will cause a shift in trips to Catalan beaches without wind farms, which implies that the estimated negative economic impacts will occur mostly in areas where wind farms are located. From a political economy point of view, this may call for the design and implementation of re-distributive instruments to offset the negative impacts caused by wind farms.