Offshore wind and biodiversity
In the transition to green energy at sea, we must ensure the best possible coexistence with marine biodiversity.
Offshore wind farms are a central part of the transition to green energy.
These large offshore structures require us to understand how they impact the marine environment so that we can ensure the best possible coexistence with the sea and its biodiversity, through all phases of a wind farm’s lifecycle. In short, the green transition requires blue knowledge — and DTU Aqua is at the forefront.
Through a range of research and innovation projects on the use of monitoring technology at sea, biodiversity indicators, and nature-inclusive design as part of offshore wind farm development, DTU Aqua provides expert knowledge and specialized competencies for offshore constructions.
DTU Aqua’s projects on offshore wind and biodiversity
DTU Aqua’s projects related to activities at sea are carried out in collaboration with organizations, other universities, and industry. Below you will find a brief description of DTU Aqua’s current offshore projects.
B-USEFUL: User-oriented solutions for improved monitoring and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services in vulnerable European seas (2022-2026)
DTU Aqua leads efforts to identify biodiversity and ecosystem indicators relevant to both public and private stakeholders for describing the state and resilience of marine environments. These indicators can be applied to monitoring in offshore wind farms and used to develop models illustrating optimal turbine placement.
This EU project is coordinated by DTU Aqua.
Contact
Martin Olof Lindegren Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources mli@aqua.dtu.dk
BIOREEF: Repopulating European flat oyster and horse mussel reefs in Denmark (2022-2027)
DTU Aqua leads work on assessing the feasibility of restoring biogenic (living) reefs. This is relevant when states aim to restore marine nature or when offshore wind developers seek to compensate for damage to natural marine habitats during wind farm construction.
The project is funded by Ørsted in collaboration with WWF.
Contact
Pernille Nielsen Senior Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 93511410 peniel@aqua.dtu.dk
COEXISTENCE (2025-2026)
The concept of coexistence is widely used in human contexts. In this project, funded by the Danish Marine Nature Foundation, we aim to define ‘coexistence’ in relation to offshore wind energy in the particular case of Denmark.
The project reviews literature on the environmental impacts of offshore wind activities and supplements existing knowledge with expert assessments from DTU Aqua to understand knowledge gaps for future research programmes. Results will be presented in easy-to-understand figures for decision-makers.
Contact
Elliot John Brown Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: 93 51 02 45 elbr@aqua.dtu.dk
ECOCORP: Biodiversity efforts in offshore wind energy: Combining an ecosystem-based and business-driven approach across scales (2026-2028)
DTU Aqua acts as a scientific advisor alongside DTU Wind in a project led by CBS and WWF, exploring opportunities to support both government and private sector in integrating nature considerations into offshore wind farm planning.
The project is funded by Velux and will also contribute teaching modules to DTU’s master’s programmes and CBS executive education.
Contact
Christian Riisager-Simonsen Academic Employee National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 91370058 chrii@aqua.dtu.dk
EHFAF CAFF: Carbon-free fisheries pathways – Transitioning towards low-impact carbon-neutral fisheries in Denmark by 2050 (2024-2027)
DTU Aqua analyses how large offshore wind farms (Horns Rev II and III, Kriegers Flak, Anholt) have historically affected Danish fisheries. The focus is on changes in fishing effort, catches, revenues, and catch efficiency before, during, and after the establishment of the farms compared to surrounding areas.
Biodiversity impacts are assessed through changes in species composition and variations in seabed habitats and depth profiles. Results are compared with simulations using the vessel-based bio-economic model DISPLACE, which estimates the consequences of closing fishing areas.
The aim is to develop a robust tool for assessing and predicting the effects of maritime spatial planning, including offshore wind farms, on fisheries, energy efficiency, and catch species.
The project is a collaboration between DTU Aqua and the fishing industry and is co-funded by the European Union through The European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund.
Contact
Francois Bastardie Senior Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources Phone: +45 35883398 fba@aqua.dtu.dk
Contact
J. Rasmus Nielsen Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 21314969 rn@aqua.dtu.dk
MARTCONNET: Unravelling the impact of artificial structures on marine metapopulations with network theory (2025-2027)
DTU Aqua investigates the ecological consequences of offshore man-made structures (MMS) for connectivity and metapopulation dynamics in the North Sea.
By combining network theory with biogeographic dispersal models, we examine how changes in the MMS landscape affect connectivity and the distribution of native and invasive species. Network analyses can identify biodiversity hotspots, key stepping stones in the marine landscape, and critical structures whose removal could prevent further spread of invasive species, thereby supporting biodiversity improvements.
The project is funded by Carlsberg Foundation.
Contact
Ane Pastor Rollan Postdoc National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 21362657 apro@aqua.dtu.dk
Nid4OCEAN: Nature-inclusive designs for reconciling offshore renewables with ocean protection (2024-2027)
DTU Aqua leads the work on developing regional recommendations for requirements and standards for ‘nature-inclusive design’, ensuring they contribute as effectively as possible to biodiversity restoration.
The EU project is led by Norway’s NIVA and involves collaboration with DNV and the ‘Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature’, which includes a consortium of NGOs, developers, and offshore wind operators.
Contact
David Lusseau Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 93511903 davlu@aqua.dtu.dk
OWESOME: Offshore wind environmental survey optimization for monitoring impacts on ecosystems (2025-2028)
DTU Aqua helps test a newly developed integrated monitoring solution for offshore wind turbines. Using passive and active acoustics, environmental DNA, underwater video, AI, and more, the system aims to monitor ecosystems under and around turbines in the North Sea.
The OWESOME project is funded by TotalEnergies under the DTU-TotalEnergies Excellence Centre for Clean Energy (DTEC).
Contact
David Lusseau Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 93511903 davlu@aqua.dtu.dk
SAMSKAG: Nordic cooperation on improving the environmental situation in Nordic marine and coastal areas, with a focus on Skagerrak (2022-2025)
DTU Aqua is responsible for the systematic analysis of the global state-of-the-art research literature on the effects of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems.
The project is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers and led by the University of Gothenburg.
Learn more in the project report (chapter 4: The impacts of offshore wind farms on ecosystems)
Contact
Elliot John Brown Researcher National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: 93 51 02 45 elbr@aqua.dtu.dk
TRANSEATION: Advancing ecosystem-based management through hybrid blue-grey infrastructures in marine and coastal areas (2024-2027)
DTU Aqua leads efforts to ensure stakeholder understanding of concepts such as nature-based solutions and nature-inclusive design so that solutions:
- actively contribute to ecosystem-based management, and
- are not implemented in ways perceived as bordering on greenwashing.
The EU project is coordinated by Spain’s Marine Technology Centre.
Contact
Christian Riisager-Simonsen Academic Employee National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 91370058 chrii@aqua.dtu.dk
ULTFARMS: Circular low trophic offshore aquaculture in wind farms and restoration of marine space (2023-2026)
Lead by DTU Aqua, this project explores the feasibility of combining mussel and seaweed production within Danish offshore wind farms.
The EU project is coordinated by Deltares in the Netherlands.
Contact
Jens Kjerulf Petersen Professor, Head of Section National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 61222429 jekjp@aqua.dtu.dk
WINDDNA (2023-2027)
Led by DTU Aqua in collaboration with Ørsted, this project tests for the first time in European waters how the newly developed high-tech underwater robot ESP from the US performs in monitoring marine biodiversity around large offshore wind farms.
Ørsted’s Horns Rev 2 wind farm is the case study.
Contact
Einar Eg Nielsen Professor National Institute of Aquatic Resources Mobile: +45 40210231 een@aqua.dtu.dk