The Legal Regime for Marine Renewable Energy on the High Seas

Year 2021, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 563 - 600, 14.10.2022

Seyhan Gül Yılmaz

Abstract

Renewable energy has typically been developed on land, however there is currently an increasing trend for renewable energy to be developed at sea. States often build marine renewable energy (MRE) units in their maritime zones where they have sovereignty or sovereign rights. As a consequence of technological advancements, the energy perspective has shifted, and states have begun to search for energy resources in areas beyond the national jurisdiction. While the importance of MRE increasing, the overall definition or legal status of these resources remains unclear.
UNCLOS considered freedom of high seas as one of the main principles in the law of the sea. However, it is not sufficient and clear enough when it is refers to activities on the high seas. In this sense, the legal status of the MRE units on the high seas will be evaluated within the scope of relevant provisions of the UNCLOS. The link between the freedom to construct artificial islands and other installations and the nonappropriation of the high seas will be explored in the context of the "due regard" principle.

Keywords

Marine Renewable Energy, High Seas, Natural Resources, Freedom of High Seas, UNCLOS

Açık Denizlerde Deniz Yenilenebilir Enerjisi İçin Hukuki Rejim

Abstract

Yenilenebilir enerji uzun yıllar boyunca karada geliştirilirken, son yıllarda yenilenebilir enerjiden denizlerde faydalanılması için artan bir talep oluşmuştur. Günümüzde devletler egemenlik veya egemen haklara sahip oldukları deniz yetki alanlarında, deniz yenilenebilir enerji tesisleri inşa etmektedir. Ancak, teknolojik gelişmelerin bir sonucu olarak, enerjiye bakış açısı değişmiştir ve devletler kendi deniz yetki alanlarının ötesindeki alanlarda enerji kaynakları aramaya başlamışlardır. Deniz yenilenebilir enerjisinin önemi gün geçtikçe artarken, bu kaynakların ve tesislerin hukuki statüsü halen açık değildir.
Birleşmiş Milletler Deniz Hukuku Sözleşmesi (BMDHS), açık denizlerin serbestisini uluslararası deniz hukukunun temel ilkelerinden biri olarak kabul etmiştir. Ancak bu ilke, açık denizlerde gerçekleştirilen faaliyetler söz konusu olduğunda yeterli ve yeterince açık değildir. Bu anlamda açık denizlerdeki MRE birimlerinin hukuki durumu BMDHS'nin ilgili hükümleri kapsamında değerlendirilecektir. Yapay adalar ve diğer tesisler inşa etme serbestisi ile açık denizler üzerindeki egemen iddiaların geçersizliği arasındaki bağlantı "gerekli saygı" ilkesi bağlamında incelenecektir.

Keywords

Deniz Yenilenebilir Enerjisi, Açık Deniz, Doğal Kaynaklar, Açık Denizlerin Serbestisi, BMDHS

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