COWRIE stands for Collaborative Offshore Windfarm Research Into the Environment. It is a registered Charity set up to advance and improve understanding and knowledge of the potential environmental impacts of offshore windfarm development in UK waters. 

COWRIE Ltd is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from The Crown Estate, the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA). It is chaired by an independent member.