The European Union has announced a number of new low carbon funding calls. Topics include large-scale deployment of offshore renewable energy – primarily offshore wind – among others
Applications from consortia must include organisations from at least three EU member states – the UK is still considered an EU state for the duration of the project. Applications are due in January 2021.
‘Green Deal call area 2: supplying clean, affordable and secure energy,’ addresses producing and using energy. The EU said energy accounts for more than 75% of its greenhouse gas emissions. This means further decarbonisation of the energy system is critical to reach climate objectives in 2030 and 2050.
Topic 1 in call area 2 is demonstrating ‘innovative, critical technologies’ to enable future large-scale deployment of offshore renewable energy technology, with the possibility to also address green hydrogen applications.
Topic 2 addresses developing and demonstrating a 100-MW electrolyser upscaling the link between renewables and industrial applications.
The EU said the call will support pilot applications, demonstration projects and innovative products; innovation for better governance of the green and digital transition; and social and value chain innovation. In relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, the call will contribute to the green and digital recovery and to increasing societal resilience in areas such as renewables, among others.
The European Commission’s long-term strategy, A Clean planet for all, identifies offshore renewable technology as a key energy system for the clean energy transition. It provides estimates for the offshore wind capacity in Europe of 240-440 GW by 2050, compared to about 22 GW today.
“This increase would represent a paradigm shift in the European energy system and require a modern infrastructure to seamlessly integrate the power of offshore resources into the energy system via the grid to onshore, or via the option of power-to-X, taking into account grid constraints, investments and evolving/new energy market design,” the EU said.
Projects are required to demonstrate at-sea innovations considering the efficiency, reliability, sustainability and circularity needed in all areas of the offshore renewable energy system.
This includes power generating systems, including floaters and substructures, mooring and anchoring systems for floating offshore wind; grid infrastructure, including innovative direct current, AC/DC hybrid technology and systems supporting steps towards large offshore HVDC grids; and power-to-X/storage systems.
Riviera will host a week of free to attend 45-minute webinars focused on offshore wind commencing 8 June. Register your interest now
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