The MEPs of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) adopted by a very large majority (59 votes in favour, 3 against and 12 abstentions), on Friday 29 January, a draft opinion by Morten Petersen (Renew Europe, Denmark) calling on the European Commission to carry out an assessment on the potential economic, social and environmental impacts of the construction of new offshore wind energy installations in areas where they are likely to come into conflict with the fishing sector.
Stressing that the EU’s offshore wind capacity must increase from 12 GW to at least 60 GW by 2030, and to an estimated capacity of between 300 GW and 450 GW by 2050 (the Commission’s strategy targets 300 GW - see EUROPE 12605/12), MEPs believe that the decision to find space for these new wind turbines “should be considered a priority in the upcoming years”.
They also call on the Commission and Member States to assess the impact of offshore wind farms already in operation on the regeneration of marine habitats and biodiversity, with a view to developing “an EU best practice”.
The paper also highlights the potential of floating wind turbine technologies to significantly increase the amount of sea space available for offshore wind farms. MEPs therefore call on the Commission and Member States to stimulate research and innovation in this field and to assess the feasibility of initiating an important project of common European interest (IPCEI) for large-scale development.
This draft opinion is intended to contribute to the own-initiative report prepared by the European Parliament Committee on Fisheries responsible for this subject.
See the amended draft opinion: https://bit.ly/3ouFPJJ (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)