The EU, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark are to launch an initiative to increase offshore wind capacity tenfold to 150GW by 2050.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) will make the announcement today at the North Sea Summit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the Belgian Prime Ministers Alexander De Croo, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
From a 15GW capacity today to 150GW in 28 years – it will provide 150 million European households with their annual electricity demand.
The move is also expected to connect all the participating countries through interconnections and green hydrogen pipelines to ensure greater security of supply.
The EU is to present the REPowerEU Action Plan today, its strategic plan to wean Europe off Russian fossil fuel imports and accelerate the expansion of renewables.
To strengthen Europe’s energy security, REPowerEU wants wind energy to grow from 190GW today to 480GW in 2030.
This requires the simplification of permitting and concerted action to strengthen Europe’s wind energy supply chain, according to WindEurope.
It will also require massive investments in offshore grid infrastructure, port facilities and vessels.WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson said: “It’s fantastic that the four EU North Sea Heads of Government and the European Commission President are coming together in Denmark to make new commitments on offshore wind.
“And that they’re doing so the very day the EU launches its big REPowerEU action plan to transform Europe’s energy system.
“But the new commitments on wind will only be delivered if Europe has a viable wind energy supply chain and if it simplifies the permitting of wind farms.
“Good things are now happening on the latter. But the former needs major attention: Europe’s five turbine manufacturers are all operating at a loss today.”