BRUSSELS, BELGIUM.
The European Commission is developing an action plan for offshore
windfarms on the continent, and is consulting with stakeholders until 20
June.
In January, the EC made a “far-reaching package” of energy and climate
change proposals, including a draft directive to promote renewable energy
and to increase its share to 20% by 2020. “Offshore wind energy has the
potential to make a significant contribution to reaching this target but
exploiting this potential is associated with a number of specific challenges
that might require further, more targeted actions,” explain the background
documents.
The Commission is inviting investors, project developers, turbine
manufacturers, energy companies, government services, environmental
non-government organisations and the general public to “identify the key
barriers for the further development of offshore wind energy in Europe and
what might be done to overcome them.” The on-line consultation will provide
the EC with an understanding of the specific key challenges for future
large-scale development of offshore wind energy in Europe, as well as with
ideas on how the EU could support the development of European offshore wind
energy resources.
While the Action Plan will focus on wind energy, the Commission is aware
that “some themes may also be relevant for other offshore renewable energy
developments (like wave, tidal and ocean current energy)” and it encourages
stakeholders to comment on these other offshore renewable energy resources.
The EU adopted a directive in 2001 that was designed to promote green power
in the continental market, and set national indicative targets for the share
of renewables in total electricity consumption by 2010, as well as
provisions to reduce or remove administrative and grid barriers. The
directive requires member countries to evaluate rules and regulations
relating to the authorisation of construction and operation of a green power
facility and requires that the electricity is guaranteed access to the grid
and, if necessary, given priority access.
The directive proposal on the promotion of renewables adopted in January
2008 also aims to remove unnecessary barriers to the growth of renewables,
including a more binding requirement on priority access of green power to
the grid and binding national targets for renewables. The directive proposal
includes strengthened provisions to reduce administrative barriers, and to
implement planning mechanisms and improve the transparency of consenting
procedures for building and operating renewable energy plants.
Development of wind energy, including measures to make large-scale offshore
windfarms competitive within a short time frame, is one of the key
technological challenges identified by the EC. It has put forward the main
elements of a new European integrated maritime policy that will address all
economic and sustainable development aspects of the oceans and seas in an
overarching fashion.
The possibility of funding renewable energy projects depends on national and
regional programmes, and member countries have allocated Euro 9 billion for
sustainable energy projects from the cohesion funds. Supporting development
of renewable energies is a top priority of the European Investment Bank,
which has an annual sub-target of Euro 600 to 800 million for renewable
energy projects and a relative target of 50% of its lending to electricity
generation associated with renewable energy technologies.
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