Offshore wind expansion: delivering climate, nature, and community benefits at scale

Abstract

Offshore wind offers large-scale, reliable low-carbon power and is becoming a cornerstone of decarbonization, energy security, and industrial policy. While its deployment has the potential to introduce environmental pressures upon marine ecosystems and to disrupt local economic activities, it can also bring net benefits. Approaches integrating habitat creation, fisheries support, and local economic development activities can deliver biodiversity gain and local community benefit. Effective governance delivered through best practice in stakeholder engagement, marine spatial planning, and environmental permitting is critical to balancing the risks of negative environmental and societal impacts with the potential societal, economic, and environmental benefits. This, alongside well-designed community benefits and local industrial policies can ensure that offshore wind is a model for sustainable and equitable infrastructure development.