Copernicus Data for Offshore Wind Energy: Capabilities, Applications and Emerging Trends

Abstract

[Abstract]: This paper presents the main parts in the Copernicus Program and how it supports the offshore wind sector through its satellite missions, reanalysis and other marine and climate products and services. Data from Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, Sentinel-3 and Sentinel-6, together with CMEMS, C3S and CLMS datasets, provide consistent observations of wind, waves, sea level, currents and coastal conditions that are widely used for site selection, design assessment, operations and environmental monitoring. Additionally, current limitations are highlighted, including reduced accuracy in near-coastal areas, gaps in in situ measurements and the need for greater user expertise. At the same time, emerging technologies like AI-based processing, cloud platforms and Digital Twins are creating new ways to enhance data accessibility and practical use. To date, no comprehensive review has been published addressing the application of Copernicus data in the offshore wind sector, and the available information is dispersed across multiple references. The goal of this review is to identify successful application cases, flag limitations and highlight emerging trends in the Copernicus data usage in the offshore wind energy sector. Overall, the findings show that Copernicus is becoming an increasingly valuable framework for improving the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of offshore wind development.