Denmark’s massive shift to offshore wind now comes with new demands to protect marine life, after authorities required nature-inclusive design in at least one of three newly announced wind farm projects.
The Danish Energy Agency has confirmed that the planned offshore wind farm north of Hesselø must include measures to protect marine biodiversity.
The move reflects growing concern that offshore wind must expand without harming sea life. It also puts research institutions under pressure to deliver solid knowledge on how wind farms affect marine ecosystems.
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DTU Aqua – the Danish National Institute of Aquatic Resources – says it is already playing a key role in that work, both in Denmark and abroad.
Nature-inclusive design is now a requirement
Nature-inclusive design aims to combine energy production with the protection and improvement of marine habitats. According to DTU Aqua, this means choosing materials, layouts, and seabed solutions that support fish, plants, and other species, rather than damaging them.
Institute director Anna Rindorf says the challenge is to meet two urgent needs at once: more green energy and a halt to biodiversity loss. DTU Aqua focuses on measuring real effects on marine life and advising on designs that can boost local biodiversity.
Research and industry work together
DTU Aqua works closely with energy firms to ensure research is applied to real-world projects. These partnerships allow scientists to test new monitoring tools, including drones and seabed sensors, inside operating wind farms.
Both Denmark and the EU have invested heavily in projects that link renewable energy with nature protection. DTU Aqua is involved in several large international projects to establish best practices for offshore construction.
Robots test biodiversity at sea
One example is the WinDNA project, run with Ørsted. In 2024, two underwater robots were deployed near the Horns Rev 2 wind farm to collect environmental DNA from the water.
Early results indicate that some species are closely linked to wind farm structures, while others are common both inside and outside the park.
Researchers stress that more data is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn.