The seas and oceans have considerable potential for renewable energy production, with wind energy currently the best-known form. While offshore renewable energy is important to help mitigate climate change, large scale infrastructure developments in European seas raise biodiversity concerns, especially as seas are already overexploited and much degraded. The construction and operation of renewable energy installations (e.g. wind farms and cables) can disrupt ecosystems and seabed habitats, kill or harm marine species, and create noise pollution.

25 -fold

expected increase

of offshore wind energy in the EU by 2050

 

Climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse are two sides of the same coin. Large-scale deployment of offshore energy should be done with full respect for marine life.

Ann Dom, Senior Policy Advisor at Seas At Risk