The European Commission has launched a new Horizon Europe call—HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D3-08—to support the development and demonstration of advanced environmental monitoring systems for offshore renewable energy (ORE) infrastructures.
This initiative aims to ensure that the expansion of offshore renewables is compatible with the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
Goals of the Projects
Projects funded under this call should:
Develop and demonstrate advanced systems to monitor the environmental impacts of offshore renewable energy (ORE) infrastructures.
Collect and analyze data on pollution, biodiversity, and ecosystem changes throughout the ORE project lifecycle.
Support sustainable marine planning and policy with reliable, innovative monitoring tools.
Expected Outcomes
Proposals are expected to deliver:
Validated monitoring systems that assess cumulative environmental impacts of ORE projects.
Improved understanding of how offshore renewables affect marine and coastal ecosystems.
Recommendations and best practices for sustainable ORE deployment.
Data and models that inform EU environmental and climate policies.
Who Can Apply?
Research organizations
Universities
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
Public authorities
NGOs
Industry stakeholders
Consortia are encouraged, especially those bringing together expertise in marine science, environmental monitoring, renewable energy, and data analytics.
What Is Funded?
Projects should focus on:
Developing and demonstrating multi-parameter environmental monitoring systems for ORE infrastructures.
Assessing the impacts of ORE projects on marine and coastal ecosystems throughout their lifecycle (installation, operation, decommissioning, repowering).
Integrating innovative technologies for pollution and biodiversity monitoring.
Supporting data-driven decision-making for sustainable marine spatial planning.
Funding budget: €15 000 000