Danish energy developer Orsted and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have called on governments to have nature protection and restoration “implemented” in all future offshore wind auctions to support an industrial strategy that targets construction of a global fleet of turbines that have “net-positive biodiversity impact” in operation.
The pair have set out a three-prong plan devised around testing “tangible” initiatives on offshore wind farms that improve ocean biodiversity, making “science-based recommendations” to governments on integration of future projects to environmental benefit, and working with other users of the oceans “to deliver on a common vision for a decarbonised energy system that exists alongside marine nature protection and restoration”.
