Europe can significantly scale up offshore wind without squeezing out other sea users, according to a new WWF briefing.
A new analysis has found that the area required for the EU to meet its offshore wind targets is minimal, occupying just 0.19% of EU seas by 2030, rising to 0.58% by 2040. This leaves the vast majority of seas available for marine conservation, fisheries, and other uses.
The analysis conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) found that the EU faces mounting pressure to rapidly expand offshore wind to meet climate targets and reduce dependence on volatile fossil fuel imports. However, progress has been slower than expected.
At the same time, tensions at sea are rising, with parts of the fishing sector raising concerns that offshore wind is crowding out other activities. This new analysis shows that these concerns may be overstated.
Only four EU member states will need more than 5% of their sea space for offshore wind by 2040, showing that the claims from parts of the fishing industry that space at sea is lacking for all users cannot be attributed to offshore wind or marine protection.
“The idea that Europe’s seas are ‘full’ is a myth. Offshore wind will take up less than 1% of EU waters, and even with the EU’s target to protect 30% of its seas, nearly 70% remains available for other uses. With stronger maritime spatial planning and sensitivity mapping, we can ensure offshore wind, nature and coastal livelihoods can coexist,” said Aliki Kolovou, ocean policy officer at WWF EU.
Rather than a lack of space, the report identifies weak spatial planning and fragmented decision-making as the core issues behind delays and conflicts.
To address this, WWF is calling for strategic environmental assessments (SEA) to be binding and for EU-wide sensitivity mapping to be systematically integrated into them. This approach uses environmental data to identify both the most biodiversity-rich areas that need protection and the areas where development can take place with the least impact.
Embedding these strengthened SEAs in the Maritime Spatial Planning Directive would enable EU member states to identify the least sensitive areas and designate them for offshore wind and other blue-economy activities, while ensuring that the most valuable areas are reserved for marine protection, helping the EU meet its 30% target.
This also benefits fishers, as properly managed marine protected areas help rebuild fish populations, allowing them to grow and reproduce more effectively and creating a spillover effect.
This strategic planning earlier in the process could streamline offshore wind projects, reduce lengthy permitting procedures, reduce backlash and the risk of deployment delays, and keep environmental impact assessments as a key tool without weakening environmental measures.
“With the upcoming Ocean Act, the European Commission has a golden opportunity to fix its planning process and dedicate enough space at sea for offshore wind and marine protection. By enshrining marine environmental and climate goals into law, the Commission can make sure our shared seas contribute to all our needs as a society,” added Kolovou.
