Abstract
The UK stands at a critical moment, with ambitious targets set for the expansion of offshore wind to meet the challenges of net zero whilst combating the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. The Ecological Consequences of Floating Offshore Wind (ECOFlow) and the Ecological Consequences of Offshore Wind (ECOWind) research programmes have been designed to bridge the gaps regarding the impacts of Offshore Wind Farm (OWF) development and expansion, to facilitate the achievement of energy and environmental targets.
This report serves as an examination of the existing and upcoming policies and projects that are relevant to offshore wind either directly or indirectly, as of April 2024, and opportunity areas for research impact in the UK. It covers the following:
• An overview of the offshore wind-related policy and project delivery landscape in the UK, setting out key challenges and targets across government departments and delivery bodies.
• Timelines for delivering these policies and projects.
• Key opportunity areas and research programmes for impact creation in relation to the optimal outcomes for fixed and floating offshore wind delivery, climate change adaptation and marine ecosystems.