The Crown Estate is partnering with a range of expert bodies across the UK to launch five new projects that will support with accelerating the nation’s path towards a net-zero and energy-secure future, whilst enabling our marine and coastal ecosystems to thrive.
These initiatives, backed by a £7.3 million investment through the Offshore Wind Evidence and Change Programme (OWEC), are led by the Offshore Wind Industry Council, Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Historic England, the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult with support from numerous public, private and charitable organisations.
The projects will aim to fill critical evidence gaps around the impacts of offshore wind farms on marine ecosystems, advance solutions to reduce those impacts, enhance access to marine data and explore the opportunity for co-location of fisheries and offshore wind farms.
Subject to contracts, the projects are part of The Crown Estate’s £50 million investment in the OWEC programme, delivered in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and Defra. Through a mix of targeted studies, research projects, and comprehensive evidence-gathering, the programme aims to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind while supporting nature restoration. By building a robust evidence base, OWEC is helping to speed up the consenting process, enhance biodiversity, and provide a better understanding of the spatial needs of seabed user groups.
Posted On: 20/11/2024
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