Cross-basin topic - Innovative nature-inclusive concepts to reconcile offshore renewables with ocean protection

The EU offshore renewable energy strategy sets ambitious objectives for renewable energy production at sea, namely in relation to the REPowerEU Communication[[https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2022%3A230%3AFIN&qid=1653033742483]]. These objectives are particularly relevant to quickly move away from our dependency on fossil fuels. Deployment of renewable energy solutions needs to be fast and coherent with the EU biodiversity protection and restoration targets. Offshore renewable infrastructures need to be built in such a way that they do not significantly harm the marine environment (e.g.: facilitating the expansion of invasive species) and even, where possible, contribute to restore marine ecosystems. Offshore infrastructures can already have positive impacts on the surrounding biodiversity and act as reefs and refuges for certain species. Nature-inclusive designs might further decrease the negative impacts and enhance desired effects. So far, efforts on design have focused mostly on scour and cable protection in the offshore wind sector. They are limited to few small scale pilot projects and a few species (cod, flat oysters, etc.), that have shown positive impacts on marine ecosystems and concentrate on the seabed close to offshore wind turbines.

Considering the expected expansion of offshore renewables, there is room for the development of innovative concepts to reduce impact of offshore activities and protect the ocean.

Proposals under this topic are expected to show how their activities and results will achieve the Mission objective 3 – Sustainable, carbon-neutral and circular blue economy, in line with the timeframe of the Mission phases, i.e.: by 2025 for the ‘development and piloting’ phase and 2030 for the ‘deployment and upscaling phase’.

Proposals should focus on truly multidisciplinary approaches for the development of nature-inclusive concept design of offshore renewable energy devices. Proposals should address novel concepts, technologies and solutions beyond the state-of-the-art, taking a life-cycle perspective, thus addressing aspects relating to planning, installation, maintenance and end-of-life issues. Proposals should identify and assess already existing approaches and concepts and highlight the benefits and feasibility of novel solutions.

Nature-inclusive concepts will address the design and choice of materials for the mooring foundations and for the offshore devices, either fixed or floating, noise issues, and laying cables, and show potential positive effects for biodiversity and the marine ecosystems. Multiple-use concepts could also be considered if relevant. Other ocean energy technologies beyond wind energy relying on wave, marine floating photovoltaics and tidal stream, for example, may also be considered.

Recommendations relating to long-term monitoring regimes of the impacts are also expected. Proposals should include biodiversity and ecosystem impact and risk assessments, (also in relation to risks of propagating invasive species).

The activities are also expected to contribute to the development of environmental standards in the field and of good practices for decision-making, planning processes and future investments. Main industry actors, such as those involved in the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan)[[https://energy.ec.europa.eu/strategic-energy-technology-plan-0_en]] should be involved.

The projects funded under this topic should:

• build links with other Mission activities and other relevant activities within the Mission lighthouses to maximize synergies, as well as with relevant EU Partnerships like Clean Energy Transition (CET), Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) or the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), with regard to EIT InnoEnergy activities;
• build links with the Mission implementation monitoring system that will be part of the Mission Implementation Support Platform and with the lighthouse support facilities, for reporting in different basins, monitoring and coordination of all relevant implementation activities in the lighthouse area;
• support the Ocean and water knowledge system, in particular by contributing to ocean monitoring, modelling and knowledge creation and data.