Energy Ministers from North Seas countries met on 4 December in Brussels and agreed a 2020 work programme on offshore wind deployment as a means of reaching climate neutrality by 2050
The 10 North Seas Energy Cooperation countries – Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK – agreed at their ministerial meeting in Esbjerg in June 2019 to broaden the scope of their co-operation.
The 2020 work programme now elaborates what they intend to do together on maritime spatial planning, electricity grids and developing ‘hybrid’ and joint offshore windfarms.
The 10 countries have committed to defining a regulatory framework for offshore windfarms that have a grid connection to more than one country. Such hybrid projects will be important in pooling assets and infrastructure and will help to reduce the cost of deploying offshore wind.
The countries have also recognised that space in the North Seas is ‘finite’ and will collaborate on maritime spatial planning to "be able to utilise the energy potential of the North Seas."
They also plan to better co-ordinate planning and development of offshore and onshore electricity grid expansion to facilitate the expansion of offshore wind and will develop "concrete plans" for potential joint cross-border offshore windfarms that "generate benefits for all participating parties."
The countries anticipate that offshore wind will be vital for Europe to deliver on its decarbonisation goals, and the European Commission has stated that 230-450 GW of offshore wind will be necessary to deliver climate neutrality by 2050.
A new report by WindEurope showed that 450 GW of offshore wind in Europe (380 GW of which in the North Seas) is both achievable and affordable provided countries collaborate with one another in their investments in electricity grids and take the right approach to maritime spatial planning.
WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said, “Up to 380 GW of offshore wind is doable in the North Seas by 2050 if countries collaborate effectively on maritime spatial planning, grid investments and hybrid offshore projects.
“The North Seas countries realise that and are taking concrete steps to make these big volumes happen. It’s great to see this reinforced commitment from governments on offshore wind and see them widening and deepening the scope of their work together. This is Europe at its best. And a great example for other regions – in particular the Baltic – to follow.”
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.