underwater noise levels by 34 decibels, up to 99% compared to the most frequently used method.127 It would also reduce the impact of construction on the seabed and potentially be more cost-effective by replacing pile driving with lighter structures. Strengthen restoration and regeneration approaches Conservation prevents ongoing degradation, while restoration attempts to reverse previous degradation.128 With an estimated 60% of services provided by nature already degraded or being used unsustainably,129 conservation alone is insufficient. Restoration efforts must be employed. Leading developers are already proactively implementing nature enhancement and restoration efforts at a site level. By rolling out nature-inclusive design, such as optimized scour and cable protection, artificial reefs and water replenishment holes,130 offshore wind farms can create marine shelters and reintroduce native species.131 Developers can also use materials and coatings that are beneficial for the growth of native species while preventing invasive species from colonizing turbine structures.Prominent examples of nature-inclusive design include Vattenfall’s Hollands Kust Zuid in the Netherlands, RWE’s Kaskasi offshore wind farm in Germany, Equinor’s Hywind in Scotland, Ørsted’s Borssele I & II in the Netherlands, and the successful re-introduction of flat oysters by the Rich North Sea in the Blauwwind wind farm.132 Compensate for unavoidable residual impacts When companies have taken steps to rigorously apply the mitigation hierarchy, they should compensate for unavoidable residual impacts as a last resort after all other attempts at preventing or reducing impacts have been considered.133 Efforts should be aligned with an NNL or NPI goal for each project. It is important to note that there are certain cases where compensation is not appropriate and should not be used. Compensation efforts should follow specific principles, such as those outlined by The Nature Conservancy,134 UNEP ,135 IUCN,136 and the Business and Biodiversity Offsets Programme (BBOP),137 including additionality, equivalency, location and temporal considerations. Ørsted collaborated with the Rich North Sea and Wageningen Marine Research to gain more knowledge on species behaviour and movement in the Dutch part of the North Sea. Ørsted provided four locations around one wind turbine within the Borssele I & II wind farm, where concrete pipes were placed as artificial reefs. Two of these sites have their own scour protection. Scientists from Wageningen Marine Research studied the behaviour of Atlantic cod and European lobster around these reefs in 2021 and 2022, using acoustic tags coupled to acoustic receivers. Studying the behaviour of species that inhabit offshore wind farm areas can lead to a better understanding of their hiding and area use preferences, and how these habitats develop. The project aimed to expand knowledge on artificial reef designs and the behaviour of cod and translocated European lobsters in this environment. Behavioural patterns revealed that cod used the artificial reefs extensively, with residency times of over several months, high site fidelity and extensive use of the structures as hiding places. As for the translocated European lobsters, the residency and fidelity associated with the artificial reefs was limited, despite some individuals exemplifying use of the structure over several days, including hiding. The results indicate that placing larger structures with a broad range of type of crevices can benefit species such as cod. It is one of Ørsted’s key efforts to help widen the evidence base on how ‘nature-inclusive solutions’ could be used in offshore wind farms, in collaboration with scientists and environmental groups.CASE STUDY 1 How Ørsted collaborates with scientists on nature-inclusive solutions By rolling out nature-inclusive design, offshore wind farms can create marine shelters and re-introduce native species. Nature Positive: Role of the Offshore Wind Sector 31

Nature Positive Role of the Offshore Wind Sector