About OCEaN
The ongoing biodiversity and climate crisis have prompted various non-governmental organisations (NGOs), wind industry actors and transmission system operators (TSOs) to join forces and cooperate in a coalition to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind energy and grid infrastructure while ensuring alignment with nature protection and healthy marine ecosystems.
We currently work in two Coalitions: one focused on the North and Baltic Seas and another focusing on the Mediterranean and adjacent Atlantic waters.
Our Mission
We envision a future with healthy, thriving seas where there is space for protected and restored ecosystems side-by-side with the offshore wind and grid infrastructure needed for a decarbonised European energy system.
OCEaN believes providing an open forum for discussion between all actors in the offshore energy transition is at the center of speeding up this transformation.
Our Goals
How do we put our mission into action?
We jointly advocate for offshore wind, grids and nature to drive change
We engage with key stakeholders to pursue common ground
We collect and share good practices to encourage their uptake
We identify research gaps and work to fill them
Our Members
| OCEaN brings together diverse voices from across civil society and the wind and electricity industry. We operate in the North and Baltic Seas and Mediterranean. | The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is a founding member, convener and moderator of OCEaN’s two coalitions. |
North and Baltic Seas
Mediterranean Sea
How We’re
Governed
Across European waters – the North, Baltic, and Mediterranean Seas and adjacent Atlantic – over 40 organisations have signed common Memorandum of Understandings and are committed to coming together on a voluntary basis to achieve their joint goals.
The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is one of the founding Members of OCEaN and acts as the convener and moderator of the group.
RGI is a unique collaboration of NGOs and TSOs from across Europe engaging in an ‘energy transition ecosystem-of-actors’, promoting fair, transparent, sustainable grid development to enable the growth of renewables to achieve full decarbonisation in line with the Paris Agreement.
How We’re
Funded
OCEaN Members come together on a voluntary basis. All Members contribute with their time and in-house resources and sponsor events and studies on a case-by-case basis.
The European Climate Foundation (ECF), The VELUX Foundations, and the US based National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) provide funding to enable selected NGOs to actively engage in the work of OCEaN. This is done via RGI-led consortiums and specific projects. For more on RGI’s funding structure please visit the funding page on RGI’s website.