Offshore wind energy in the Nordic Region
The EU has set targets for offshore wind energy as part of its broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. By the end of 2024, Europe had installed around 37 GW of offshore wind capacity, but it is estimated that 400–450 GW will be needed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
To meet the EU´s energy and climate targets for 2030 and 2050, the Commission published an EU strategy on offshore renewable energy (COM(2020)741) proposing concrete ways to support the long-term sustainable development of this sector. The strategy sets the goals of 60 GW of offshore wind and 1 GW of ocean energy by 2030, and 300 GW and 40 GW, respectively, by 2050. The Nordic countries, many of them committed to the Paris Agreement, have also set ambitious renewable energy targets, contributing to the broader European efforts towards a sustainable energy transition. Yet, the Nordic approach to offshore wind energy is diverse, reflecting the region's varying geography, resources and energy profiles. Denmark, with the longest history of offshore wind development in the region, has the most established industry, while Sweden, Finland and Norway are at various stages of expansion. Meanwhile, the North Atlantic countries – Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands – remain focused on other energy sources.
This variation reflects each nation's unique circumstances. Denmark has established wind power as a crucial component for meeting its renewable energy targets and is accelerating towards an additional 9 GW by 2030. Norway, despite modest beginnings with only a few turbines, has set an ambitious national target of 30 GW by 2040 and has designated areas such as Utsira Nord and Sørlige Nordsjø II for development. Sweden is in a growth phase, working to identify offshore wind areas that could provide an additional 90 TWh annually as the country pursues 100% renewable energy by 2040 and prepares to double its electricity production to 300 TWh by 2045. Finland's offshore wind sector is growing, supported by favourable natural conditions, with the Korsnäs offshore wind farm set to become the country's first large-scale project when operational in 2030. Åland is also emerging in this field, developing the Sunnanvind project with estimated potential of 4 GW and 20 TWh in annual energy production.
However, not all Nordic countries are pursuing offshore wind development. Iceland, whose energy system is primarily based on onshore hydropower and geothermal resources, has not yet prioritised offshore wind energy. Similarly, Greenland has transitioned from fossil fuels and now generates a significant portion of its energy from renewable resources like hydropower, but has not established offshore wind installations. The Faroe Islands currently rely on onshore wind, hydropower and tidal energy, with uneven wind conditions making offshore wind development more challenging.
Environmental impacts of offshore wind
Offshore wind energy offers significant environmental opportunities but also introduces notable ecological challenges. As a renewable energy source, it plays a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and advancing the Nordic climate and energy goals. Offshore sites benefit from stronger, more stable wind conditions, contributing to higher energy yields and energy security. When carefully planned and properly sited, offshore wind farms can generate positive ecological effects. Turbine foundations can act as artificial reefs, supporting marine biodiversity by providing habitats and spawning grounds for fish and invertebrates. In some areas, offshore wind farms may function similarly to marine protected areas, limiting bottom trawling and promoting the recovery of degraded benthic habitats. These outcomes could support synergies between offshore wind and fisheries, particularly if co-location and planning frameworks are designed to enable shared benefits.
However, offshore wind farms also pose environmental risks. Construction noise can disturb marine mammals and fish, while turbine structures may pose risks to seabirds and disrupt migration routes. Bottom-fixed installations can alter seabed conditions, disturb sediments and contribute to habitat loss. These risks are especially concerning in ecologically sensitive and already stressed marine environments. Moreover, the cumulative impacts of large-scale offshore wind deployment across multiple sites and over time remain poorly understood, due to limited long-term monitoring and baseline data. Uncertainty around ecological outcomes complicates planning and contributes to stakeholder tensions. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated governance, improved environmental data and inclusive planning processes that align ecological sustainability with the needs of the energy and fisheries sectors.
Blue food in the Nordic Region
Over recent decades, the Nordic fishing industry has evolved from subsistence practices into a high-investment, export-oriented sector. This transformation has shifted the focus from merely avoiding overexploitation to optimising economic returns, with sustainability increasingly integrated into industry practices. Despite the dominance of large-scale operations, small-scale coastal fisheries remain essential for local employment and community development, landing close to 900,000 tonnes annually and generating an estimated EUR 1.2 billion in value.
While most countries across the Nordic Region have long-standing fishing traditions and cultures, the nature and scale of their fisheries vary according to marine ecosystems and national priorities. Norway is a global seafood leader, exporting cod, herring and salmon, with fishing deeply embedded in its economy and identity. In contrast, Sweden has a small fishing industry, focusing on trout, char and mussels, and is a net importer of seafood, while Denmark has a robust fisheries sector and is expanding sustainable aquaculture. Finland targets herring and sprat in the Baltic Sea, with increasing export value, and Iceland's fishing industry is a major part of its GDP, exports and culture. Greenland's primary industry is fishing, especially shrimp and halibut. The Faroe Islands depend heavily on marine exports and Åland focuses on expanding sustainable aquaculture.
To supplement the fishing industry, aquaculture and seaweed cultivation are expanding. Favourable conditions and advances in technology in the Baltic and North Seas, as well as in the Atlantic Ocean, have underscored the critical importance of these alternative methods for securing future food systems.
Environmental impact of fishing
Sustainable blue food systems rely on healthy marine ecosystems. To meet globally agreed biodiversity targets, such as the commitment under the Convention on Biological Diversity of protecting 30% of the oceans, it is essential to minimise current pressures on marine environments, including those in the Nordic seas. These seas are vital not only for biodiversity but also for fisheries and coastal communities. Reducing threats to Nordic blue food systems is therefore crucial for both sustainability and regional resilience. The production of blue food in the Nordic Region depends on marine ecosystems that support essential functions like climate regulation, nutrient cycling and habitat provision. However, current fishing practices, particularly bottom trawling techniques, pose significant threats to these ecosystems. Bottom trawling damages seabed habitats, disrupts nursery grounds and undermines ecosystem services critical to fish stocks and biodiversity. Overfishing and destructive techniques such as pelagic and bottom trawling are major contributors to the decline of key food fish species, including in the Nordic Region. These pressures, combined with eutrophication in the Baltic Sea, acidification in the North Sea and the overarching impacts of climate change, present a compounded threat to marine biodiversity and food security.
Environmental protection in the Nordic seas
Protecting marine environments in the Nordic Region is essential for maintaining biodiversity, preserving habitats and safeguarding the resilience of marine ecosystems in the face of environmental change. Marine biodiversity protection in the Nordic Region is driven by multilateral agreements, regional initiatives and national policies. In addition, Nordic countries have committed to a range of international agreements and conventions aimed at conserving marine biodiversity. Fulfilling these commitments requires the implementation of measures such as the designation of marine protected areas (MPAs) to conserve critical habitats and species.