Expansion of the use of offshore wind energy is a particularly important goal in developing the use of renewable energies. Implementation of the development objectives of the Federal Government will bring new types of utilisation and new structures into marine ecosystems. In accordance with a nature-friendly development of offshore wind energy use targeted research is required to be able to identify and resolve potential conflicts. BioConsult is active in ecological research on the use of offshore wind energy since ten years, and we conducted the first environmental impact study for an offshore wind farm in German waters. Currently, one of the main topics of BioConsult SH is accompanying research on marine mammals and seabirds in the first German offshore wind farm „Alpha Ventus“. With several environmental impact studies and numerous research projects in Germany, Denmark and the UK, we have actively participated at different points on the challenge of offshore wind energy.