The WWF report assesses the space allocated for offshore wind in the national Maritime Spatial Plans (MSP) of 10 coastal EU Member States.¹ The analysis reveals that, except for Belgium, the ten Member States with available data have allocated sufficient areas at sea to meet or exceed their non-binding offshore wind pledges for 2030. In addition, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland have allocated enough for a 2040 pledge. 

“Offshore wind energy is essential to building a green and secure energy system and to meeting our climate targets. While sufficient space at sea has mostly been allocated, Member States must select projects that support a just transition at sea and help coastal communities reap the benefits of a renewables-based economy,” said Arnaud Van Dooren, Renewable Energy Policy Officer at WWF Europe.

Similar patterns can be seen for the Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) scenario projections² for 2030, with only Belgium not having enough space allocated, while both Belgium and the Netherlands need more space for 2040 to stay aligned with the 1.5°C climate target. However, PAC projections rely on overall energy demand being nearly halved by 2040 - if this is not achieved then higher levels of wind energy deployment will be needed, potentially creating much more conflict with nature and people. 

For the other 12 coastal Member States that have yet to provide data on space allocated for offshore wind, the report estimates the space needed to meet their pledges. However, enough space has already been allocated for the EU as a whole to reach their 2030 and 2040 pledges.

In harmony with nature

The report's findings indicate that achieving the renewables targets at sea is doable while avoiding protected areas, as eight out of the 10 countries with available data have allocated enough space for renewable energy development outside of current Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This is crucial because MPAs help protect and restore vulnerable marine ecosystems that play a major role in absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. In addition to their climate mitigation and adaptation benefits, MPAs also support food security and the livelihoods of millions of Europeans living along the coast. Member States must now urgently map the areas needed for future protection and restoration to ensure consistency between energy and biodiversity objectives.

“Achieving climate neutrality and preserving biodiversity are not mutually exclusive goals. This report shows that with careful planning and an ecosystem-based approach, we can deploy offshore wind energy while delivering on the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s goal of expanding the network of marine protected areas to cover at least 30% of European seas by 2030. Member States must guarantee quality as well as quantity in their projects, ensuring that renewable energy does not come at the expense of nature,” said Helena Rodrigues, Ocean Policy Officer at WWF Europe.

A truly sustainable economy: renewables in harmony with other activities at sea

Despite these positive findings, further collaboration among Member States is essential, especially at the sea basin level, to ensure a nature-friendly and equitable transition. By taking a transboundary approach, the coexistence between the different stakeholders and sectors at sea will thrive while minimising pressures on marine ecosystems.

Given the growing competition for space at sea, WWF urges policymakers to halt new fossil fuel projects to free up space while urgently revising their national Maritime Spatial Plans to better integrate multiple uses, the latest requirements of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Nature Restoration Law, and the Renewable Energy Directive. 

Additionally, WWF calls on governments to optimise existing allocated areas in their MSPs for Renewables Acceleration Areas (RAAs) and prioritise environmental and social criteria in offshore wind project tenders. Finally, the EU must pursue much faster action to cut energy and resource demand, and improve energy efficiency, in view of decreasing pressure on nature and on the cost for our society. 



1. Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden

2. The Paris Agreement Compatible (PAC) energy scenario, which sees the EU reach climate neutrality and 100% renewable energy by 2040, is used in the briefing to compare as a reference point for the space allocated by Member States might need to allocate for offshore wind by 2030 and 2040 and the space needed to stay aligned with the Paris Agreement.