Understand and minimize the environmental impacts of offshore wind energy | Deadline 17 February 2026
Countries: EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) / project partnership: countries associated to Horizon Europe – see list of particpating countries
Description
The Horizon Europe call “Understand and minimise the environmental impacts of offshore wind energy” (HORIZON-CL5-2026-D3-02-08) supports research and innovation actions that address the cumulative pressures offshore wind farms exert on marine ecosystems.
It encourages the development of advanced monitoring tools, predictive models, and mitigation strategies to assess and reduce impacts throughout the lifecycle of wind energy infrastructure—from planning and construction to operation and decommissioning. The call aligns with EU goals for climate neutrality and biodiversity protection, aiming to ensure that offshore renewable energy expansion is environmentally responsible.
Proposals should integrate ecological, technological, and socio-economic dimensions, and foster collaboration among researchers, industry, public authorities, and civil society. Expected outcomes include validated tools and data to support marine spatial planning, restoration measures, and policy development. Projects should also contribute to the EU Mission “Restore our Ocean and Waters” and the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for offshore renewable energy.
