MARE-WIND aims to support offshore wind development that is compatible with marine biodiversity protection. The project seeks to: understand how offshore wind farms affect marine biodiversity, food webs, and pollutant transfer; assess how electromagnetic fields from subsea power cables influence fish and marine mammals; provide science-based knowledge and tools to help policymakers and stakeholders integrate biodiversity into offshore wind planning.
Offshore wind energy is a key component of Europe’s climate transition. While offshore wind farms help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they also alter marine environments by modifying habitats, influencing food webs, generating electromagnetic fields, and potentially affecting the distribution of chemical pollutants. These impacts occur in seas already under pressure from climate change and human activities, such as the North Sea. However, offshore wind planning still mainly focuses on technical and economic aspects, with limited consideration of biodiversity. MARE-WIND addresses this gap by providing accessible scientific knowledge to support offshore wind development that respects marine ecosystems.
