Wind industry calls for offshore wind in the North Seas to be taken to the next level

Industry stakeholders and Ministers/government representatives participating in the concluding High-Level Panel concurred that enhanced regional collaboration especially on grid development and Maritime Spatial Planning across sea borders, close dialogue with stakeholders and innovation on framework conditions is key to tap the decarbonization potential of offshore wind for Europe.

“To take our industry to its next step in competitiveness and showcase offshore wind in the North Seas as the decarbonization tool for Europe, we need to see enhanced ambition when it comes to volumes as well as a true regional approach to maritime spatial planning. The North Seas Energy Cooperation is an important first step on this journey,” states Mr. Philippe Kavafyan, CEO of MHI Vestas Offshore Wind.

“If Europe is to stay within the 1.5-degree target, a part of the needed solution is delivering at least 400 GW offshore wind energy according to a recent report from the EU-Commission. The North Seas Energy Cooperation is an important forum to create the needed space for offshore wind energy in the North Seas ensuring a cost-efficient solution to the benefit of the European consumers,” says Thyge Boserup, SVP, Head of Development, Regulatory and Markets, Ørsted.

“Offshore wind has already proven its cost competitiveness and time is now for gearing up on developing best value grid to shore, including best practice for hybrid projects, and grid from coast to consumer, which is key for the value of wind power to society at large,” says Claus Madsen, Managing Director of ABB.

“The North Seas has the potential to become the blue-print for intelligent deployment of offshore wind, that the wind industry’s emerging offshore markets will have an eye on. This is where challenges are first met that calls for innovative approaches both related to technology solutions and frameworks conditions to be thought out in a close partnership between industry and governments’,” says Andreas Nauen, CEO of Siemens Gamesa Offshore Business Unit.

“I am hopeful that the North Seas Energy Cooperation through close regional cooperation and dialogue with industry can turn out to be just the vehicle needed to take deployment of offshore wind in the North Seas to the next level,” says Minister Lars Chr. Lilleholt of the Danish Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate who has held the Presidency of the cooperation since last Summer.

Read more here  on the European wind industrys recommendations to the North Sea cooperation. A Joint Statement from the participating countries on the results of the cooperation can be found here (in Danish).