The North Seas countries Ministerial Meeting

The countries of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) - Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, the Netherlands, Norway and the European Commission on behalf of the EU - have renewed their Political Declaration and deepened cooperation to meet the ambitious offshore wind 2030 - 2050 targets.

At the Ministerial Meeting, under the Belgian Presidency, Energy Ministers and the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, signed a new Political Declaration that agreed on key initiatives to accelerate the rate of cost-effective deployment of offshore renewable energy. This will include delivery of voluntary cooperation for joint and hybrid cross-border projects and increased levels of renewable energy interconnection among the members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation.

The new declaration also sets out how the parties will work together on the development of improved marine spatial plans, including at sea basin level, through the development of a multi-use stakeholder approach to ensure shared usage of marine areas.

The Energy Ministers and the Commissioner outlined their intention to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy in the North Seas for a climate neutral future in the EU, with its objective of achieving an installed capacity of at least 60 GW of offshore wind energy and at least 1 GW of ocean energy by 2030 as well as 300 GW of offshore wind energy and 40 GW of ocean energy by 2050. This will play a key role in delivering on the Paris Agreement and COP26 commitments.

The Ministers and the Commissioner discussed how the initiative can exchange best practices on national support schemes and respective cooperation models, foster the coordination of national maritime spatial planning and offshore tendering processes and support the implementation of innovative wind projects. They also considered the role of the revision of the TEN-E Regulation and the Renewable Energy Directive, these days on the table of negotiation of the Council and the European Parliament, to connect regions currently isolated from European energy markets, strengthen existing cross-border interconnections and promote cooperation with partner countries.

EU Commissioner for energy Kadri Simson said:  

NSEC is an outstanding example of how regional cooperation at sea basin level contributes to reach the EU Green Deal objectives, by setting a common direction and working together on ambitious cross-border offshore wind projects. It could be a source of inspiration for other Member States with joint ambitions in developing offshore renewable energy.

Belgian Minister Tinne Van der Straeten stated:

In order to meet Europe's climate neutrality targets, close regional collaboration and synergetic partnerships in the North Sea is indispensable. With today’s engagements of developing offshore renewable energy, improving marine spatial plans and sharing valuable ecological knowledge, the North Seas Energy Cooperation has again shown itself to be an important frontrunner in achieving those ambitions.

In the last 12 months, NSEC has finalised a study on a long-term vision for the role of offshore renewables by 2050, including the role of hydrogen and inland supporting infrastructure. The study will shortly be published and made available on the EU Commission website.

Finally, after one year of ambitious and committed work, Belgian Minister Tinne Van der Straeten officially handed over the Presidency of the North Seas Energy Cooperation for the year 2022 to Ireland.

Irish Minister Eamonn Ryan said:

Expectations from industry and climate campaigners are high and we look forward to this initiative speeding up delivery of larger and more complicated projects, including ultimately the full commercial deployment of floating offshore wind turbines combined with green hydrogen generation in our deeper North Sea and Atlantic waters.

Related links

• The North Seas Energy Cooperation