Offshore wind energy is important in Europe’s energy transition, with many countries setting increasingly ambitious targets to accelerate decarbonization following the European Commission’s 2030 climate goals. However, the rapid expansion of offshore wind also raises concerns about its impacts on the marine environment and associated socio-economic effects. These include pressures on fisheries, tourism, and other maritime activities. Nature-inclusive designs (NIDs) offer potential ways to reconcile offshore wind development with biodiversity objectives, while also supporting the socio-economic goals of coastal communities. Yet, frameworks for assessing socio-economic value and pathways for industry uptake are still under development. Moreover, there are important tradeoffs (pros and cons) that depend on the ecological and socio-economic context at regional or local scales across European seas that have not been well investigated.
This session will bring together scientists, industry representatives and policymakers interested in the field of offshore wind and NiDs. This session is grounded in the Horizon Europe project NiD4OCEAN, which aims to advance the emerging field of NiDs across European seas. We will present and invite feedback on: (i) an assessment framework for evaluating the broader socio-economic consequences (positive, negative or neutral) of NiD implementation, and (ii) the ecological considerations needed to shape best practices according to the regional/local ecological context and set recommendations for industry standards. Discussions will examine ecological feasibility, the suitability of different measures, and opportunities to strengthen deployment for mitigation and restoration. Participants will also consider which system components and interactions most influence socio-economic outcomes, and how these insights can support the creation of common frameworks and standards to guide industry practice from a European perspective.
Our aim is to align scientific innovation with policy and implementation in Europe, maximize community benefits, reduce conflicts, and align climate and biodiversity goals across the project lifecycle. By emphasizing cross-disciplinary collaboration, the session will foster new partnerships, identify research priorities, and accelerate a nature-positive energy transition in Europe without compromising marine biodiversity, seafood security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
