Denmark is part of an EU-supported digital solution for offshore wind

The public data collaboration Danmarks Miljøportal and Aalborg University (AAU) are among the key participants and are behind new funding from the EU to develop an open-access data platform that will collect and share marine data across national borders.

"The sea does not respect national borders, and therefore we need a common data framework where players can plan offshore wind on the same basis - regardless of which country they come from," says Nils Høgsted, Head of Secretariat at Danmarks Miljøportal.

The project addresses one of the biggest challenges in the expansion of offshore wind: the access to and integration of marine environmental data, which today is often fragmented, nationally delimited and technically disparate. With SUSTAINOW, both a common data platform and digital tools are developed to help find the best locations for offshore wind and take the environment into account throughout the planning.

"SUSTAINOW has a very strong consortium that bridges the gap between data, models and needs among players in the expansion of offshore wind. We have already received a number of inquiries from actors who are very interested in following the project," says Ivar Lyhne, associate professor at the Danish Centre for Environmental Assessment (DCEA) at AAU.

The data platform will first be tested in the North Sea, but the ambition is for the solution to be expanded to other European sea areas such as the Baltic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the partners are also working to develop a roadmap for geographical distribution and common standards.

Vestas: SUSTAINOW can help anticipate challenges in offshore wind

Vestas participates as a partner in the development of SUSTAINOW. For Vestas, participation is about reducing uncertainty and unforeseen barriers in projects, e.g. within environmental considerations or social conditions, that can delay or stop the expansion of offshore wind.

"SUSTAINOW addresses some of the factors related to how a wind farm affects the environment, such as wildlife, fishing interests and local resistance. These are data and insights that are often difficult to access in the planning phase. With SUSTAINOW, we hope to get a more comprehensive overview and a better basis for making the right decisions early in the process," says Hans Ejsing Jørgensen, Senior Specialist at Vestas.

Danmarks Miljøportal contributes both to technical development and to ensuring the framework for how the collaboration works - e.g. regarding data agreements, responsibility and operation. At the same time, Miljøportalen is working to develop a future model for international operation and financing, e.g. in the form of partnerships or subscription schemes, so that the solution is both technically and financially sustainable.

The first prototype is expected to be ready in 2027, and the tools will be tested in 2028.