This UN Decade of Ocean Science Laboratory Satellite event — OASIS for a Productive Ocean: Offshore Wind Energy virtual workshop — had three blocks focusing on stakeholder needs for air-sea interaction information, technologies for observing oceanic and atmospheric boundary layers, and strategies that OASIS may implement that could contribute to a Wind-Energy productive ocean and decarbonization goals, including for SIDS and global coasts in the Southern Hemisphere.

Offshore wind is one of the least costly sources of energy and thus should be part of the global solutions to energy production, decarbonization, including for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Wind power is roughly proportional to wind speed cubed so that small variations in winds can have a large impact on energy production. Understanding of the meteorological and oceanic conditions is thus critical for their proper siting and management. Technologies used for research applications and by industry are rapidly advancing in parallel. The objective of this workshop was to bring together air-sea interaction researchers and stakeholders from the wind energy sector, forecasting companies, and governmental and non-governmental science organizations, from across the globe (including SIDS), to share perspectives and ideas for how the UN Ocean Decade Programme OASIS could contribute to a Wind-Energy Productive Ocean outcome and decarbonization goals. View speaker presentations on the OASIS youtube channel!

This event was a satellite activity of the UN Ocean Decade Productive Ocean Laboratory and took place on 1 June, 4:00 – 6:00 pm CEST.