From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
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Energy Ministers from the members of the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) and the European Commission have today announced a significant increase in their collective ambition in the deployment of offshore renewable energy. At their Ministerial Meeting in Dublin, under the Irish Co-Presidency of NSEC, the NSEC ministers have – for the first time – agreed aggregate, non-binding offshore renewable energy targets for the maritime area of the entire NSEC region.
The nine NSEC countries have agreed to reach at least 260GW of offshore wind energy by 2050. This will represent more than 85% of the EU-wide ambition of reaching 300GW by 2050 as set out in the EU strategy for offshore renewable energy.
Ministers and the Commission reiterated their commitment that cooperation within the NSEC will be the framework for achieving their increased offshore ambitions.
Speaking at the Ministerial meeting, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan said:
"In Ireland alone our sea area is seven times our landmass. The North Atlantic and North Sea comprise some of the windiest locations on the globe. It is our greatest collective resource of continuous energy and it is momentous that we have agreed today to be ambitious in our targets, as a collective. Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and the consequential energy price shock and security of supply crisis has shown us how crucial it is that we move away, as quickly as possible, from our reliance on expensive and ransomed fossil fuels. It has also shown us how important unity across the European Union has been in responding to this crisis. When it comes to realising the potential of offshore wind, again, it is best that we work in unity, that we set agreed targets, and that we operate as a collective. With this approach, we can provide assurances to householders and businesses – in our own countries and across Europe – that firstly, Europe will be energy independent, and secondly, that these new renewable energy sources and resultant hydrogen from our seas will be fairly shared and, critically, will be affordable."
Welcoming the new targets, the European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson said:
"Today’s commitment is a great example of the kind of regional cooperation that the Commission envisaged in our Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy. It is impressive that the target agreed by nine NSEC countries constitutes more than 85% of the EU-wide ambition we outlined two years ago. The green energy transition has only become more urgent since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The acceleration of renewables deployment is one of the three pillars of the REPowerEU Plan to end our dependence on Russian fossil fuels. Increasing renewable energy will not only help to improve the sustainability of our energy sector, it will improve our security of supply and the affordability of energy – two challenges that we are facing in the EU at the moment."
ENDS
The North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) is a regional non-binding and voluntary EU cooperation framework which aims to advance development of offshore renewable energy in the geographical area of the North Seas, including the Irish and Celtic Seas. The NSEC is based on a political declaration adopted in 2016, with membership comprised of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the European Commission.
The 2016 political declaration which established the group emphasises the importance of voluntary cooperation, with the aim of securing a sustainable secure and affordable energy supply for the North Seas countries. An updated political declaration was signed in December 2021 to reflect the increased climate ambition contained in the European Green Deal.
The Co-Presidency of the NSEC is held by the European Commission on a permanent basis and one NSEC member state for a rotating 12-month period. Ireland holds this Co-Presidency role for 2022.
In this role Ireland has sought to promote the following:
Hybrid offshore renewable projects or hybrid interconnectors are projects that combine electricity generation with the ability to supply electricity to two or more different markets – for example an offshore wind farm that would have connections to Belgium and Denmark.
As part of the role of Co-President, Ireland hosted a Ministerial Event in Dublin on Monday, 12 September for the energy ministers of the NSEC and the European Commission. In addition to the Irish priorities, the meeting included discussions with offshore renewable energy sector representatives regarding current offshore renewables supply chain constraints and possible actions to address these.
The Ministers and the Commission discussed how the revised EU TEN-E Regulation will make a vital contribution towards development of the offshore grids, cross border interconnection, and hybrid offshore renewable energy projects necessary to deliver upon their increased offshore ambitions.
The Joint Statement of the Dublin meeting reiterates the need to speed up permit granting procedures for deployment of offshore renewable energy, while ensuring that maximising our common offshore resource takes place with due regard for the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, the economic wellbeing of local communities, viable and sustainable food production and alternative activities taking place within our shared maritime space.