Offshore wind farms development in relation to environmental protected areas

The potentiality of offshore wind energy development in the western coast of Greece in relation to all the protected areas in this region was investigated. Major factors such as minimum distances from constraining the offshore wind farm installations, ports and Natura sites were analyzed as environmental constraints in the region. The results indicate that even if all the protected areas are excluded as well as places of economical activity like ports, the available surface is adequate for the massive development of the alternative energy source of offshore wind.