Ofshore Wind Energy & Biodiversity Protection - Roadmap to Enhanced Policy Coherence

Offshore wind energy plays a crucial role in the European transition to renewable energy, with many countries setting ambitious targets under the European Green Deal. However, the expansion of this sector impacts marine ecosystems, which are already under pressure from climate change and other human activities. This roadmap outlines recommendations to enhance coherence between offshore wind energy development and marine biodiversity protection. It identifies barriers such as fragmented governance, inconsistent environmental assessments, and limited stakeholder engagement. Drawing on the experiences of Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway, it underscores the misalignment between renewable energy targets and biodiversity conservation policies, which often operate independently. This roadmap examines key European policies, including the Renewable Energy Directive III, the European Union Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. These policies offer a framework for aligning offshore wind energy expansion with biodiversity goals, but better policy coherence in practice is needed. By emphasizing improvements to marine spatial planning, early-stage environmental assessments, and inter-agency coordination, the roadmap provides practical guidance to ensure that the development of offshore wind energy aligns more effectively with marine biodiversity objectives in the European Union