The influence of maritime spatial planning on the development of marine renewable energies in Portugal and Spain: legal challenges and opportunities

The objective of this study is to analyse, from a legal point of view, the influence of the transposition of Marine Spatial Planning Directive into both Spanish and Portuguese domestic laws on the development of marine renewable energies in both countries. This article concludes that the Portuguese legal system is more favourable for the development of marine renewable energies than the Spanish legal regime, since the former establishes a more flexible planning system, sets criteria for the prioritisation of marine uses, incorporates trade-off mechanisms, introduces an electronic single-window system and regulates a pilot zone. These measures can help streamline licensing processes, avoid and resolve conflicts with other sea users, and adapt planning instruments to the rapid development of new marine renewable technologies. However, both legal regimes lack specific legal mechanisms aimed at offering effective protection of the marine environment against negative effects arising from the installation of such devices. Similarly, there is a lack of coordination between maritime spatial planning instruments and land planning instruments, and between the Central Government and the autonomous regions. This may hinder the installation of marine renewable energies. This study has implications in relation to the EU integrated marine policy aimed at achieving a balance between blue growth and the conservation of the marine environment, as well as an inter-administrative coordination improvement in decision-making.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2016/36Programa IACOBUS (Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion

Development of offshore wind power: contrasting optimal wind sites with legal restrictions in Galicia, Spain

The region of Galicia, in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, has a high wind potential for the installation of offshore wind farms (OWFs) in many areas of its surrounding marine waters. However, legal restrictions derived from the protection of other interests that converge in the marine environment (such as fishing, navigation, and biodiversity conservation) must be considered, along with technical limitations resulting from water depth. This study is aimed at analysing legal restrictions on the installation of OWFs in Galician waters and at identifying those zones of less conflict where the wind power density (WPD) is greater and the depths and distances from the coast are technically feasible given the current status of technology in Europe. To do this, a legal study was performed of both the strategic environmental assessment of the Spanish coast and the regulations of the different marine sectors at European, international, national, and regional levels. In addition, the WPD along the north-western area of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe was calculated, and an analysis of maximum and average depths and distances from the coast of planned and installed OWFs in Europe was made. Two main zones without legal and technical restrictions were identified in the north-eastern corner of Galicia and in the south of the Vigo estuary. The greatest WPD was identified in the north-western zone, from Cape Finisterre to Cape Ortegal, where there are small sites without legal or technical restrictions that are near several protected zones (such as a marine reserve, a special protected area, and a wetland and its buffer zone), making necessary a deeper analysis of the specific impacts of each OWF project in the Environmental Impact Assessment.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2016/36Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. SFRH/BPD/118142/201

An overview of offshore wind energy resources in Europe under present and future climate

Long-term sustainable development of European offshore wind energy requires knowledge of the best places for installing offshore wind farms. To achieve this, a good knowledge of wind resources is needed, as well as knowledge of international, European, and national regulations regarding conflict management, marine environment conservation, biodiversity protection, licensing processes, and support regimes. Such a multidisciplinary approach could help to identify areas where wind resources are abundant and where conflicts with other interests are scarce, support measures are greater, and licensing processes are streamlined. An overview of offshore wind power studies at present, and of their future projections for the 21st century, allows for determining the optimal European locations to install or maintain offshore wind farms. Only northern Europe, the northwest portion of the Iberian Peninsula, the Gulf of Lyon, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the northwest coast of Turkey show no change or increase in wind power, revealing these locations as the most suitable for installing and maintaining offshore wind farms in the future. The installation of wind farms is subject to restrictions established under international law, European law, and the domestic legal framework of each EU member state. Europe is moving toward streamlining of licensing procedures, reducing subsidies, and implementing auction systems.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2017/64Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2016/36Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. SFRH/BPD/118142/20

Informe COTEC: situación y evolución de la economía circular en España

Tercera entrega de este informe bienal analiza la evolución y la situación actual de la economía circular en España respecto a Europa.La economía circular es una de las grandes transiciones en las que Cotec está inmersa y una de sus líneas prioritarias en las que está centrando sus esfuerzos. Con este tercer informe, Cotec quiere mantener su contribución al análisis de la situación de la economía circular en España y analizar las políticas puestas en marcha desde los distintos niveles administrativos. Esta entrega además incorpora un estudio detallado de las competencias y capacidades disponibles a nivel nacional para impulsar la transición circular, así como de las barreras y los elementos facilitadores para dicha transición. La economía circular ofrece una alternativa al actual modelo de producción, basado en una cadena de valor lineal que genera residuos en todas las etapas, desde la extracción de materias primas hasta la generación de residuos, pasando por las fases de fabricación, distribución y consumo. La alternativa consiste en prolongar la vida económica útil de los materiales y los recursos tanto como sea posible, reduciendo al mínimo la generación de residuos.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Aspects juridiques de la gestion des zones côtières en Espagne

Javier Sanz Larruga Francisco. Aspects juridiques de la gestion des zones côtières en Espagne. In: Revue Juridique de l'Environnement, numéro spécial, 2001. Aménagement et gestion intégrée des zones côtières. pp. 131-162

Derecho y políticas ambientales en Galicia (Primer semestre 2013)

Derecho y políticas ambientales en Galicia (Primer semestre 2013

Legislació ambiental Galícia (Primer semestre 2011)

Legislació ambiental Galícia (Primer semestre 2011

Continuidad ecológica, evaluación ambiental transfronteriza y cooperación entre España y Portugal

Una de las manifestaciones más relevantes de las relaciones de cooperación entre España y Portugal son las relativas a la gestión compartida de cuatro de sus cuencas hidrográficas, formalizada a través del Convenio de Albufeira (firmado en 1998 y en vigor desde enero de 2000). Además, a partir de febrero de 2008 entró en vigor el Protocolo de Actuación Ibérico que permite coordinar actuaciones conjuntas de ambos países.Desde la perspectiva ambiental y sobre la base del Convenio Espoo de 1991 sobre “evaluación del impacto ambiental en un contexto transfronterizo” y del Convenio de Aarhus de 1998 sobre “acceso a la información, participación del público en la toma de decisiones y acceso a la justicia”, se han venido desarrollando diversas actuaciones de cooperación entre España y Portugal con el fin de evaluar los impactos transfronterizos derivados de proyectos de obras públicas y planes de ambos países. La continuidad ecológica de la actividades desarrolladas en los territorios vecinos de estos países exige la aplicación de los procedimientos previstos a tal efecto y la actuación de las instituciones públicas respectivas.Poner de la manifiesto el funcionamiento de estas relaciones de colaboración entre España y Portugal en materia ambiental, de sus virtudes y de sus carencias constituye el objeto de esta comunicación. Palavras-chave / Palabras clave:Derecho ambiental, Evaluación ambiental, Cooperación transfronteriza