PRESS RELEASE
21 October 2025
Over the past three years, the European project MARINEWIND – Market Uptake Measures of Floating Offshore Wind Technology Systems, funded by the European Union under the Horizon Europe programme, has worked across five countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom) to understand how floating offshore wind energy can become a cornerstone of Europe’s energy transition. With a collaborative approach centred on dialogue among all sectors of the so-called “quintuple helix” – industry, research, public authorities, civil society, and green innovation – the project laid the foundations to accelerate the large-scale adoption of these technologies.
At the heart of MARINEWIND were the MARINEWIND Labs, five national case studies established in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, and the UK. Each Lab acted as a “laboratory of ideas” to analyse political, social, technological, and financial conditions influencing the deployment of floating offshore wind energy. Through these case studies, the project was able to compare different realities across countries with varying levels of floating wind maturity, identifying common challenges and opportunities for the sector’s development in Europe.
Based on the analyses carried out in the five Labs, MARINEWIND developed practical tools to support policy and investment decisions. Among them, a methodology to calculate the reference strike price for Contract for Difference (CfD) auctions, supported by an interactive platform to simulate the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) under different technological and financial scenarios. These tools help identify more realistic market conditions and support the design of more sustainable auction strategies. In parallel, the project created the MARINEWIND WebGIS, an open-access platform that compiles data and results from the five case studies, providing tailored information for policymakers, investors, and local communities. Together, these instruments reinforce the project’s role as a catalyst for innovation and applied knowledge in the blue energy transition.
Across Europe, the three rounds of co-creation workshops held in each Lab engaged stakeholders from industry, academia, government, and civil society. From Viana do Castelo and Lisbon to Civitavecchia and Sicily, from Ferrol to Catalonia, and from Thessaloniki to Wales, MARINEWIND fostered a European dialogue on maritime spatial planning, social acceptance, and the readiness of port infrastructures to host this growing industry.
Beyond the local activities, MARINEWIND organised two international webinars, which brought together leading experts to discuss integrated policy frameworks, socio-economic benefits, and technological challenges of Floating Offshore Wind Technologies (FOWTs). These events laid the groundwork for the EU Policy Roundtable, held in Brussels in July 2025, where representatives from the European Commission and other stakeholders discussed how to translate research findings and best practices into effective policy measures supporting floating offshore wind in Europe.
“Over the past three years, MARINEWIND has built bridges between research, policy, and industry,” said Riccardo Coletta, Senior Project Coordinator at APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea. “By combining data, dialogue, and innovation, we’ve helped shape a more informed and coordinated pathway for floating offshore wind across Europe.”
To consolidate the project’s findings, the consortium published the “MARINEWIND Booklet of Recommendations”, gathering insights from the five Labs and broader European experiences. The booklet identifies five priority action areas:
- Promote technological innovation and upgrade port and grid infrastructure;
- Strengthen the European supply and value chain, reducing external dependencies;
- Ensure inclusive and transparent maritime spatial planning integrating environmental protection;
- Increase social acceptance through community benefits and continuous dialogue;
- Adopt supportive policy and financial instruments, such as non-price criteria, investment incentives, and training programmes.
More than a technical report, the Booklet serves as a strategic roadmap to unlock the full potential of floating offshore wind energy in Europe, ensuring that its growth contributes to competitiveness, sustainability, and shared value creation in coastal communities.
The project culminated on 1 October 2025, in Aberdeen, with the Final Conference “Beyond MARINEWIND: Real-world insights to unlock the potential of Floating Offshore Wind”, hosted at the Floating Wind Innovation Centre (FLOWIC). The event brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry representatives to discuss the project’s final results and recommendations through two thematic panels: one focused on technological and infrastructural challenges, and another on maritime spatial planning and stakeholder engagement. The day concluded with a visit to the FLOWIC facilities, underscoring the importance of innovation and international collaboration for the future of floating offshore wind.
MARINEWIND ends, but leaves behind a significant legacy of knowledge, cooperation, and forward-looking vision. A firm step toward a more sustainable ocean and a greener, energy-independent Europe.
Webinars, the booklet, and other materials are available at: www.marinewindproject.eu
CONTACTS
Name: Riccardo Coletta, Paola Zerilli
Email: coletta@apre.it , paola.zerilli@york.ac.uk
