SSE Renewables has joined the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN).
The group of European NGOs, offshore wind developers and transmission system operators (TSOs) are coming together to ensure that the deployment of offshore wind is balanced with the need to protect and enhance marine ecosystems.
This includes improving collaboration with other spatial uses of the sea and with climate, nature protection and restoration goals.
The Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI) is the convener and moderator of OCEaN, which now has 28 member organisations.
Kate Wallace Lockhart, Head of Sustainability, SSE Renewables, said:
“SSE Renewables is delighted to join the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature, which has established itself as a collaborative forum for offshore wind developers, TSOs and environmental NGOs to share ideas, knowledge and best practice.
“We’ve got an ambitious set of commitments for the company, not only in deploying more offshore wind capacity, but doing so in a way that enhances biodiversity.
“Participating in OCEaN will no doubt help us achieve those goals by being in dialogue with industry peers and stakeholders.”
Cristina Simioli, Programme Manager – Offshore Energy and Nature, Renewables Grid Initiative, said: “We are delighted to welcome SSE Renewables to the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature.
“We look forward to learning from SSE’s experience and starting to collaborate alongside OCEaN Members on the identification of concrete solutions to speed up the deployment of offshore wind while protecting and enhancing our marine ecosystems.”
SSE Renewables is leading the construction of almost 5GW of new offshore wind generation and has a secured offshore wind development pipeline in the UK and Ireland that exceeds 9GW.
Internationally, SSE Renewables is expanding into new markets, like the Netherlands, where the offshore wind opportunity is “immense” and critical to achieving both significant emissions reductions and biodiversity net gain (BNG).
Last year, SSE Renewables published its first ever BNG toolkit at COP27.
The report, entitled “Positive for the Planet”, outlines the steps taken by SSE Renewables to enhance the natural environment and sets out the company’s commitments for achieving BNG across its business.