Driving marine biodiversity in offshore wind

Andrew Ho, Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Ørsted Australia, joining ocean sustainability leaders at Admiralty House in Sydney for Ocean Decade Australia’s event
Andrew Ho, Head of Government & Regulatory Affairs at Ørsted Australia, joining ocean sustainability leaders at Admiralty House in Sydney for Ocean Decade Australia’s event
Ørsted’s commitment to net-positive biodiversity outcomes on our project was in the spotlight this month, as we joined Ocean Decades Australia in celebrating the halfway point of the United Nations Ocean Decade 2021 – 2030.
All Ørsted projects operational from 2030, including our two Gippsland offshore wind projects, will deliver a net-positive impact on biodiversity - going beyond avoiding and mitigating potential harm, to actively restoring and enhancing biodiversity.

To achieve this using proven, best practice methods, we are currently testing and refining an industry-first Biodiversity Measurement Framework – an eight-step process that synthesises diverse global standards into a single practical tool.

We’re also exploring technologies and methods that will help us achieve this aim - from marine rewilding in the North Sea; to seagrass restoration in the Humber Estuary; and exploring novel coral habitats in the Taiwan Strait.
Andrew Ho addressing attendees at the Ocean Decade Australia’s event
Andrew Ho addressing attendees of Ocean Decade Australia’s event
Our commitment to the ocean environment as a way of both caring for Country and supporting a sustainable ocean economy, comes from belief that decarbonising the energy system needs to happen in harmony with nature. It is embedded across our organisation, from leadership decisions to how our project teams plan, build and operate offshore wind farms.

Discussing this commitment, we recently joined a recent panel session of Australian sustainability leaders hosted by Ocean Decade Australia with the Governor General of Australia, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC.

At the event Ocean Decades Australia launched their latest white paper, exploring the challenges that begin in the boardrooms of Australian organisations to respond to shifts in nature and natural capital, particularly relating to ocean systems.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Sydney, the paper features Ørsted’s artificial reef restoration trial being undertaken on turbine foundations in Denmark.
Ocean Decade Australia’s report, Ocean in the Boardroom
Ocean Decade Australia’s report, Ocean in the Boardroom
The trial involves artificial reefs weighing between 200 and 550 kilograms, which are comprised of natural materials, meaning they are biocompatible with the surrounding environment.

You can read the full paper here: oceandecadeaustralia.org/news-item/22080/ocean-in-the-boardroom

Read more about our work on biodiversity framework here: Biodiversity Measurement Framework for energy projects