Abstract
The paper evaluates the impacts of Offshore Wind Power (OWP) research beyond academia, where metrics such as number of publications and citations per paper tend to dictate. University researchers have a public duty to align their research outputs towards the wider benefit of society and should be acutely aware of the social implications of their work. Employing the TeStGE framework, the study reviews the Techno-economic, Socio-technical, Geotechnical and Environmental applications of university research in the area of OWP, in turn testing the waters for potential knowledge exchange (KE) and technology transfer (TT) between relevant stakeholders. The study has three underlying goals: (1) Identify the research activities of experts at leading universities; (2) assess the significance and implications of various research streams according to the TestGE method; and (3) explore pathways for facilitating KE and TT to stimulate and strengthen OWP investments, scalability and policymaking, with provisions for both society and the environment. At present, little attention is given to evaluating cumulative environmental impacts (CEIs), while ecosystems are rarely considered as integrated systems, leaving the offshore industry exposed to harming vulnerable marine habitats and species. There are few policymaking mechanisms available for securing a pathway towards a more integrated offshore grid, which is fundamental for delivering the full benefits of offshore wind, both in terms of cleaner and more affordable energy. The study finds that financing barriers also accompany governance challenges. As technological advancements in industrial production turbine design helps offshore wind farms (OWFs) to reach deeper ocean waters, geotechnical risk factors have only been partially understood. TT is needed to enable the application of multiple turbine designs to help secure a lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE). KE is required to ensure that OWP is deployed in the right locations under the right conditions. can benefit from a wider diversity of research, beyond what is typically attended to within engineering departments. Broadening the scope of OWP-related research activities can in turn boost the reach of academic research beyond the industrial sector, engaging a wider range of stakeholders while influencing policymaking decisions, as well as environmental awareness.