Publications
Winds of Change documentary launched by BirdLife Europe and Central Asia
Jun 21, 2024
The clean energy transition provides an opportunity to rethink how we manage our seas and the role offshore wind and grids can play their role in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises. A new documentary from BirdLife Europe and Central Asia brings viewers on a journey across the beautiful North Sea and presents how the additional pressure from the expansion of offshore wind can be minimized and how nature can be included in the design of new wind farms.
OCEaN Infographic on Nature Inclusive Design: Options for Offshore Wind Farms and Grid Infrastructure
Jun 06, 2024
With the support of the VELUX Foundations and BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, OCEaN - North and Baltic Seas is proud to launch a new infographic which highlights different nature inclusive design options for offshore wind farms and electricity grid infrastructure.
Papers from Natuur & Milieu: Sustainable Decommissioning of Offshore Wind Farms
May 02, 2024
With the support of the VELUX consortium, OCEaN Member Natuur & Milieu has published two papers discussing what happens after the end of life of offshore wind farms and the dilemma between full decommissioning, nature conservation, circularity and how to make this a focal point in government and industry policy.
Factsheet - The Policy and Regulatory Landscape of the Netherlands
Feb 26, 2024
Reaching our decarbonisation targets requires deployment of wind energy in European seas. If we look at the Netherlands, what is the current state of offshore wind development and how do their plans include nature? You can learn the answers in RGI's new factsheet on the Netherlands, produced alongside a webinar series highlighting legal and regulatory frameworks within selected European countries related to offshore wind, grid and nature planning and permitting.
Med OCEaN Recommendations to ensure nature-friendly offshore wind and grid development with robust and timely Maritime Spatial Planning
Nov 07, 2023
Members of the recently launched Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature – Mediterranean basin (Med OCEaN) strongly support an improved, robust, and timely Maritime Spatial Planning process. This will significantly contribute to accelerating OWE, as well as reducing investment risks and project delays. In this context, Med OCEaN Members, a coalition which includes stakeholders from Spain, Italy, France, and Portugal, are today launching recommendations to be considered by EU Member States of the Mediterranean basin and adjacent Atlantic waters.
OCEaN Statement on the upcoming EU Wind Power Package
Oct 23, 2023
Ahead of the publication of the EU Wind Power Package, the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN) launched a statement supporting the use of minimum requirements and non-price criteria in the design of offshore wind farm auctions.
OCEaN Statement on ecological criteria in offshore wind farm auctions
Apr 26, 2023
In this statement, the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN) encourages European Member States to make full use of ecological non-price criteria for the design of offshore wind farm auctions. These are important tools for Member States to incentivise the innovation required to achieve the EU Green Deal objectives and the Good Environmental Status of our seas, support European industry, and speed up the deployment of much-needed electricity generation and transport capacity.
WWF Video on Maritime Spatial Planning: We need our ocean to plan for a sustainable future
Mar 16, 2023
The WWF European Policy Office has produced an animated video introducing the tool of Maritime Spatial Planning and explaining how it helps us make sure our activities are in balance with nature, by considering our complex relationship with the sea in the long term.
BirdLife Video on Sensitivity Mapping: Accelerating offshore wind expansion and protecting nature
Feb 20, 2023
A new video from BirdLife Europe & Central Asia, produced with support from the Renewables Grid Initiative and The North Sea Foundation, outlines how sensitivity maps are a powerful tool for protecting nature whilst facilitating the necessary rapid transition to renewable energy.
WWF Reports: Assessing Maritime Spatial Planning in the Baltic, North Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean
Oct 31, 2022
WWF has produced reports assessing the maritime spatial plans of EU Member States located on the coasts of the Baltic Sea, North Sea and North-East Atlantic Ocean. These reports analyse to what extent Member States' plans are developed with an Ecosystem-Based Approach.
Case Study: Marine environmental data monitoring for nature-friendly offshore wind
Oct 19, 2022
Released in conjunction with OCEaN's conference on speeding up nature positive offshore energy infrastructure that took place on 19 October 2022, this case study shines a spotlight on the Belgian Offshore Wind Monitoring Programme and how selected aspects of this programme can benefit nature-friendly ORE expansion.
10 Recommendations to improve Maritime Spatial Planning to reach European climate, energy and biodiversity targets
Oct 19, 2022
Released in conjunction with OCEaN's conference on speeding up nature positive offshore energy infrastructure that took place on 19 October 2022, these 10 recommendations identify concrete actions for Member States to undertake and specific points to improve in upcoming national-level MSP evaluations and revisions.
RPSB Report: Powering Healthy Seas - Accelerating Nature Positive Offshore Wind
Sep 30, 2022
A new report by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) brings together experts in conservation and wind energy to look at how the UK can live up to its offshore wind commitments and protect our natural world. The report offers hope that with the right frameworks and political will, we can find ways to generate renewable energy at sea that will help us tackle the climate and nature emergencies together.
WWF Position Paper: Accelerating offshore wind deployment in a nature friendly way
Sep 05, 2022
In this position paper, WWF outlines how the use of non-price criteria to assess and select tenders can help address the twin crises of climate and biodiversity.
Essential Environmental Concepts for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in Europe
Jun 21, 2022
The Renewables Grid Initiative, in collaboration with OCEaN members, commissioned the discussion paper "Essential Environmental Concepts for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in Europe" in order to clarify key environmental concepts used in policy discussions regarding marine biodiversity protection and the expansion of the offshore wind energy (OWE) sector. Sixteen key environmental concepts relevant in guiding the sustainable development of the offshore wind energy sector were identified and reviewed by independent conservation and sustainability consultant PJ Stephenson.
North Sea Foundation Analysis: potential risks to North Sea nature posed by offshore wind energy
Feb 18, 2022
Research by the North Sea Foundation shows that ecological knowledge development is increasingly lagging behind the acceleration of the energy transition. This report highlights the benefits and risks of large-scale roll out of offshore wind farms as it is becoming increasingly likely that the ambition for wind at sea will clash with the ecological carrying capacity of the North Sea.
OCEaN German WG: Six recommendations for a nature-friendly development of offshore wind energy
Nov 04, 2021
The German Working Group of OCEaN has just published "Six recommendations for a nature-friendly development of offshore wind energy" to call on the German coalition partners to include these measures in the coalition agreement to achieve climate neutrality in Germany by 2045 and implement the European Climate Law and Europe-wide climate neutrality by 2050.
Messages on Maritime Spatial Planning
Oct 31, 2021
OCEaN’s Working Group on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) has finalised a document encompassing five key principles that Member States should integrate into their respective national MSPs.
Study Launch: Offshore Biodiversity Data and Monitoring
Oct 07, 2021
RGI launched the study "A Review of Biodiversity Data Needs and Monitoring Protocols for the Offshore Wind Energy Sector in the Baltic Sea and North Sea" by author PJ Stephenson. The study commissioned by RGI is a building block towards transparent and comparable data as well as harmonised monitoring practices and a streamlined collaboration among stakeholders.
BirdLife Summary Report: How Offshore Wind Impacts Seabirds
Sep 30, 2021
BirdLife International published a Summary Report on the "Impact of offshore wind development on seabirds in the North Sea and Baltic Sea: Identification of data sources and at-risk species". The report identifies possible impacts of the growing offshore wind development on already endangered seabirds in the North and Baltic Seas and indicates how data can be used to mitigate these risks posed to marine wildlife in order for the clean energy transition to happen while protecting biodiversity.