Offshore renewable energy Strategy of the EU

Brussels,

Offshore renewable energy

The renewable energy of the seas consists of many different sources that are abundant, natural and clean, like wind, wave and tidal.

The EU Strategy

To enable offshore renewable energy to contribute significantly to the European Union's 2030 and 2050 energy and climate goals, the Commission unveiled a comprehensive strategy on offshore renewable energy COM(2020)741 on November 19 2020.

This strategy outlines specific measures for fostering the sector's long-term sustainable growth. It aims for a minimum installed capacity of 60 GW in offshore wind and 1 GW in ocean energy by 2030, escalating to 300 GW and 40 GW, respectively, by 2050.

The EU's strategy on offshore renewable energy extends well beyond the basic aspects of energy generation. It addresses a wider array of concerns, including:

Securing access to maritime areas for energy development
Promoting regional and international collaboration
Considering the industrial and employment impacts
Facilitating the transition of technological innovations from research labs to practical applications

In formulating this strategy, the Commission drew insights from various stakeholders and the general public through a public consultation and a webinar. Additionally, a series of targeted studies were conducted to provide comprehensive insights for various facets of the strategy.

The implementation of this strategy has been progressing, marked by a significant offshore conference for ministries and public authorities in 2021. This event delved into investment strategies, public engagement, permitting processes, offshore infrastructure, and grid planning.

Furthermore, the inauguration of a Working Group on Offshore Renewables within the Clean Energy Industrial Forum was a notable step in 2021. This group is tasked with identifying the industrial challenges the sector faces in achieving the targets set for 2030 and 2050. A Working Group on Ocean Energy was established in 2017. Further details can be found in the Ocean Energy section on this page.

This group is instrumental in supporting the EU's actions on offshore renewable energy, which include achieving a minimum installed capacity of 60 GW from offshore wind and 1 GW from ocean energy by 2030, progressing towards at least 300 GW and 40 GW, respectively, by 2050.

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The EU targets for 2050 require very significant efforts:

Offshore Wind Energy: + 1954.79%
Ocean Energy: + 39,900,00%

The group's primary objective is to pinpoint and articulate the challenges and potential bottlenecks the sector might encounter in meeting the 2030 and 2050 objectives.

It also aims to formulate strategies to navigate these challenges. Following a call for interest issued in July 2021, the working group convened for the first time on October 13, 2021. In preparation for the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) Summit on September 12, 2022, the group compiled an informative note focusing on the offshore supply chain.
Key documents associated with this initiative include the Clean Energy Industrial Forum's mission statement and a joint declaration on skills development in the clean energy sector.

The EU Commission also contracted out a number of targeted studies to serve as input for different dimensions of the strategy.

Study on the offshore energy potential in the Atlantic Ocean (October 2023)
Study: Financing of offshore hybrid assets in the North Sea (November 2020)
Study: Market arrangements for offshore hybrid projects in the North Sea (November 2020)
Study on the offshore grid potential in the Mediterranean region (November 2020)
Study: Technical requirements for connection to HVDC grids in the North Sea (November 2020)

Investing in offshore renewables

Offshore renewable energy encompasses a variety of energy sources and technologies, each at different stages of evolution. They present unique challenges and opportunities for European energy systems, maritime users, industrial stakeholders, and civil society.

To support the ongoing evolution of offshore renewable energy, it's crucial to continue developing Europe's energy infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, market designs, and research and innovation efforts. A long-term view is essential to facilitate the investments needed in this sector.

This involves integrating offshore renewable energy across various sea basin levels — including the North, Baltic, Mediterranean, and Black seas, the Atlantic Ocean, and the EU’s outermost regions and overseas territories. It also includes setting ambitious goals in national maritime spatial plans.

The revised Regulation on Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E), effective from June 2022, puts into action the objectives outlined in the EU offshore strategy.

This regulation introduces new infrastructure categories for hybrid offshore grids and radial lines and includes permitting provisions to fast-track the expansion of offshore grids.

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Furthermore, the TEN-E Regulation promotes regional collaboration among EU countries. Supported by the Commission, these countries will work together to establish non-binding regional targets for offshore renewable generation within each sea basin. These regional targets will contribute to the formulation of strategic integrated offshore network development plans.

In addition, the TEN-E Regulation supports regional cooperation between EU countries which will, with the support of the Commission, cooperate to define non-binding regional goals for offshore renewable generation to be deployed within each sea basin.

These regional goals will feed into the development of strategic integrated offshore network development plans.

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Offshore Wind Energy

The expansion of offshore wind energy plays a vital role in achieving the goals set by the European Green Deal. As of 2021, the European Union had achieved an offshore wind capacity of 14.6 GW. This figure is projected to grow by at least 25-fold by 2030, tapping into the extensive potential of the five major EU sea basins.

To maximize the development of offshore wind resources in key areas like the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, and to foster collaborative efforts among the nations in these regions, the EU actively participates in the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan. A notable step forward in this endeavor was the establishment of a cooperative framework between the NSEC and the United Kingdom in December 2022.

This framework aims to support the development of offshore renewable energy that is both cost-effective and sustainable.

Read all details on EU Wind Power Action Plan here

Ocean Energy

Ocean energy, encompassing technologies like wave and tidal converters, forms a crucial part of the European Union's 'Blue Economy'.

These emerging technologies are rapidly gaining prominence due to their ability to provide a stable and predictable source of power, significantly contributing to the EU’s climate and energy objectives. Ocean energy technologies benefit from established industrial connections with sectors such as hydropower, shipbuilding, wind turbine manufacturing, and offshore oil and gas, ensuring access to a robust European supply chain.

Over the past decade, EU nations and the private sector have collectively invested over €4 billion in research and pilot projects focused on ocean energy. The EU, through its Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan, has outlined specific cost-reduction targets for ocean energy technologies in the coming decade. The aim is to reduce the cost of tidal stream technologies to €0.15 per kWh by 2025 and further to €0.10 per kWh by 2030. Similarly, for wave energy, the target costs are set at €0.20 per kWh by 2025 and €0.15 per kWh by 2030.

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Initial beneficiaries of ocean energy technologies are likely to be offshore installations and islands currently facing high electricity costs.

Additional insights and developments in this sector are detailed in the Ocean Energy Barometer 2022 and the CORDIS results pack, which highlights 10 EU-funded ocean energy technology projects.

Read more on OEE-EU Technologiacal Platform

The EU Working Group on Ocean Energy

The Working Group on Ocean Energy, established in 2017, aims to research and create roadmaps for the development of wave and tidal energy sectors.

It is supported by ETIP Ocean and the OceanSET project. OceanSET focuses on implementing the group's plan and fostering knowledge exchange among EU countries, regions, and stakeholders in the ocean energy sector. ETIP Ocean, on the other hand, identifies research and innovation priorities in this field.

In 2020, the working group updated its implementation plan, aligning new targets with the EU's offshore renewable energy strategy.

This plan outlines specific actions and targets applicable to all ocean energy technologies, as well as those specific to wave or tidal energy, to be pursued at both national and EU levels.

The working group comprises representatives from various EU countries, regions, and stakeholders. Italy chairs the group, which includes 13 other European countries.