  Can satellite data be used to address challenges currently faced by the
Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) sector? What benefit can satellite observations
bring to resource assessment and maintenance of ORE farms? Can satellite
observations be used to assess the environmental impact of offshore renewables
leading towards a more sustainable ORE sector? This review paper faces these
questions presenting a holistic view of the current interactions between
satellite and ORE sectors, and future needs to make this partnerships grow. The
aim of the work is to start the conversation between these sectors by
establishing a common ground. We present offshore needs and satellite
technology limitations, as well as potential opportunities and areas of growth.
To better understand this, the reader is guided through the history, current
developments, challenges and future of offshore wind, tidal and wave energy
technologies. Then, an overview on satellite observations for ocean
applications is given, covering types of instruments and how they are used to
provide different metocean variables, satellite performance, and data
processing and integration. Past, present and future satellite missions are
also discussed. Finally, the paper focuses on innovation opportunities and the
potential of synergies between the ORE and satellite sectors. Specifically, we
pay attention to improvements that satellite observations could bring to
standard measurement techniques: assessing uncertainty, wind, tidal and wave
conditions forecast, as well as environmental monitoring from space.
Satellite-enabled measurement of ocean physical processes and applications for
fisheries, mammals and birds, and habitat change, are also discussed in depth.
