Four ideas were received on the topic of offshore energy systems and marine infrastructures as a result of the JPI Oceans’ solicitation of new Joint Action ideas in 2025, focusing on environmental monitoring and ecological impacts of offshore wind energy, as well as positive and negative impacts of man-made infrastructures on marine ecosystems.
Given their thematic convergence, these ideas were grouped into a single scoping process. Initial expert discussions confirmed that, while knowledge and research effort in this area is already considerable, it remains fragmented across technologies, sectors, and sea basins. This Scoping Action therefore explores the case for a JPI Oceans Knowledge Hub to synthesise what is already known, rather than commissioning new research. The Knowledge Hub would serve three primary audiences: regulatory authorities, industries and the research community.
The Scoping Action aims to:
Harmonise existing knowledge for cumulative environmental impact assessments of different offshore infrastructure types and sea basins;
Facilitate cross-sectoral and cross-border knowledge exchange, including through shared open data platforms and the Digital Twin of the Ocean;
Advance understanding of how man-made structures can contribute net-positive outcomes for marine ecosystems;
Provide guidance on the operational resilience and security of critical marine infrastructures.
Europe is planning a large-scale expansion of offshore energy systems, subsea cables, pipelines and cross-border interconnectors over the coming decade, yet the considerable environmental knowledge underpinning this growth remains fragmented across technologies, sectors, and sea basins. A JPI Oceans Knowledge Hub could fill a specific coordination gap by connecting experts, authorities, industry and researchers into a transnational platform. By integrating knowledge across sectors and sea basins, this initiative would offer a common evidence base for environmental assessment, permitting and decision-making.