"Europe can significantly scale up offshore wind without squeezing out other sea users" (WWF)

Europe can significantly scale up offshore wind without squeezing out other sea users. The space needed for the EU to meet offshore wind targets is minimal, occupying just 0.19% of EU seas by 2030, rising to only 0.58% by 2040. This leaves the vast majority of seas available for marine conservation, fisheries, and other uses", according to a new WWF briefing, released on 07/07/2026.

To meet its climate commitments and ensure energy security, Europe "urgently needs to accelerate the expansion of offshore wind power generation", and it is slower than expected. However the "various" proposals from the Commission to speed up wind deployment were not welcomed by the sea users, concerned that "offshore wind is crowding out other activities".

Through this briefing, WWF proposes "a new policy…