Eight countries commit to big boost in Baltic offshore wind capacity

Among the signatories of the Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Declaration, which was signed at a conference hosted by the Polish Wind Energy Association (PSEW), were Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

The countries jointly committed to the expansion of offshore wind in the Baltic and want to foster mutual collaboration in the context of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP).

They plan to collaborate in areas such as hybrid offshore wind projects, smart grids, energy system integration and digitalization. According to the declaration, the eight countries will also develop coordinated approaches to maritime planning, taking into account other uses of the sea space and environmental protection.

WindEurope deputy chief executive Malgosia Bartosik said, “Today’s declaration marks another milestone for the energy transition in Poland and in the whole Baltic region.

“Governments put faith in Europe’s cheap, efficient and reliable offshore wind technologies. They acknowledge that wind energy can be a motor of Europe’s recovery from Covid-19, ensuring long-term growth and jobs. The collaborative spirit of today’s declaration should also feature in the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy.”

The declaration says that offshore wind energy is ‘essential’ in reaching national and international climate and energy targets. In its scenarios for a climate neutral Europe by 2050, the European Commission wants to increase offshore wind from 23 GW today to up to 450 GW.

Today, most of Europe’s offshore wind capacity is installed in the North Sea. According to WindEurope, the North Sea will remain the core of European offshore wind installations with 212 GW of capacity by 2050. But the Baltic could host 93 GW by 2050, up from today’s 2.2 GW. The economic opportunities linked to this expansion are massive.

WindEurope chair Philippe Kavafyan said, “Collaboration among Baltic countries will be key to unlocking the 93 GW potential of offshore wind energy by 2050.

“Attending in person here in Stettin, witnessing the signing of this historic declaration, gives me great confidence that there is a real commitment from governments around the Baltic to work together, at the regional level, on an ambitious plan covering maritime spatial planning, infrastructure investments and the just transition of the workforce.”