COWI has joined forces with Wood Thilsted in a Joint Industry Project (JIP) aimed at integrating nature-inclusive practices into the design of offshore wind farms. The initiative seeks to ensure that wind energy developments contribute positively to biodiversity throughout their entire lifecycle.
The JIP focuses on all stages of wind farm projects, from initial planning and construction to decommissioning, with the goal of enhancing marine and coastal ecosystems. It will explore how environmental design and operational practices can create measurable biodiversity benefits across offshore turbines and onshore substations.
COWI's UK Director for Sustainability, Alistair Kean, emphasized the importance of going beyond sustainability basics in renewable energy projects. “Although renewable energy projects are in the long-term less damaging to the planet, they do have an environmental impact. We feel it is our duty to design offshore facilities to have as much biodiversity benefit as possible,” he said.
Kean further explained the need to reverse centuries of environmental decline. “We know that windfarms do create additional habitat for a wide range of species, the question is how to do this in a way that maximises biodiversity and helps to promote wider ecological recovery in our coastal waters. After 200 years of human-induced wildlife decline in our seas, it is time to start designing projects that regenerate lost habitats over a wider area.”
Danny Bonnett, Wood Thilsted's Director of Sustainability and Chair of the JIP, underscored the transformative ambition of the initiative. “It's no longer enough to merely minimise harm; we must move towards creating measurable, positive impacts on biodiversity and natural systems,” he said.
The project has already drawn interest from industry leaders, with Bonnett adding, “It's inspiring to see this level of commitment from key industry stakeholders who recognise the dual imperative of protecting nature while advancing renewable energy.”
