Germany and the Netherlands have agreed to assess the feasibility of joint cross-border offshore wind projects under a wide-ranging new decarbonisation agreement.
“Several exemplary cross-border offshore wind projects have been identified where a more detailed assessment and greater cooperation could be beneficial,” said the Joint Declaration of Intent inked at a high-level renewable energy meeting in Berlin on 2 October.
The countries, represented at the event by Germany’s economics and energy minister Peter Altmaier (pictured) and Dutch economics minister Eric Wiebes, said cross-border offshore projects have “great potential” to “accelerate the deployment of renewable energy”.
The countries will now look into eliminating investment barriers and will assess how cross-border offshore projects could “contribute to further market integration and future sector coupling”.
Joint innovation and research projects in offshore wind are also part of the agreement.
Other areas identified for cooperation in the joint statement are: the role and feasibility of hydrogen; carbon pricing; industry decarbonisation R&D; and carbon capture utilisation and storage.
To keep a check on progress, regular meetings will be held: government experts will “meet on a regular basis” to work on the priorities of the new agreement. Energy Directors-General will meet every six months to assess progress. An annual ministerial meeting will discuss progress made towards the joint goals.
“The German and Dutch energy markets and infrastructure are strongly integrated. Whilst respecting country-specific challenges, both Participants acknowledge that national energy policy decisions need to take due account of effects on neighbouring countries.
“In this regard, the Participants acknowledge the importance of closer regional cooperation on issues with high cross-border relevance within the framework of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs),” said the statement.
The agreement is seen as a further step, building on two earlier agreements made this June, by the Pentalateral Energy Forum and the North Seas Energy Cooperation.
Both earlier agreements outlined the scope of regional cooperation and set priority actions for “the next few years”.