Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) debated on Thursday 1 July the draft own-initiative report by Morten Petersen (Renew Europe, Denmark) on the European Union’s strategy for offshore renewable energy.
During the discussion, MEPs broadly agreed on the need to accelerate the deployment of offshore renewables in order to reach at least 60 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, and 300 GW by 2050, as set out in the European Commission’s strategy presented last November (see EUROPE 12605/12).
For Danish S&D shadow rapporteur Niels Fuglsang, the 2030 offshore wind target should even be raised to between 70 and 79 GW if the EU is to meet its target of reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55%.
In order to develop this sector, the draft report stresses the “urgency of improving and expanding existing infrastructure” to allow electricity generated at sea to reach consumers.
In this context, Petersen calls for facilitating sectoral coupling and integration of marine renewable energy in the production and development of green hydrogen, conversion of electricity into another type of energy, electricity storage, and district heating, in the framework of the revision of the EU Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E) Regulation (347/2013) (see EUROPE 12746/16).
The draft report also emphasises the need to strengthen cooperation between Member States as well as to facilitate permitting procedures for offshore renewable projects.
MEPs have until 6 July to table amendments to the draft report.
See the draft report by Mr Petersen: https://bit.ly/3x6Vd4a (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)