EU Works for Timely Realisation of 300MW Offshore Wind Target

In a report adopted by the European Parliament, the Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have charted out a roadmap on faster deployment of offshore wind in the continent to timely arrest global warming and climate change. This is in line with the ‘EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy’ that sets out the goals of reaching 60 GW offshore wind capacity by 2030 and 300 GW by 2050.

The report categorically holds that meeting the 2030 and 2050 offshore targets requires a quicker deployment of offshore renewable energy. This implies that maritime space and coasts must be managed more sustainably. At the same time, it also red flags the fact that many EU member states are lagging behind in the necessary switch to renewables.

The report says, “Net-zero emissions economy requires renewable energy to be deployed on an unprecedented scale, and there is an urgent need of improving and expanding existing infrastructure.”

The report also says that over the sea wind farms also benefit marine biodiversity. It depends on sustainable design and construction of the project. An ecologically sustainable project can coexist alongside other activities; also help fishing and maritime transport.

The report says that the key for faster offshore wind energy development is simplification and shortening of procedures for developers to get governments’ permits. A transparent process and fixed time limits will help the industry grow, says the report. What is also highlighted is that the EU is a technological leader in the ‘offshore renewable energy’ production sector; growth of clean energy production can leverage a significant economic boost for the EU.

The Parliamentarians also said that NextGeneration EU recovery fund is a strong vehicle to mobilise capital and private investments are already high in the sector. They apprised that it is crucial to design, develop and deploy renewable offshore energy in a circular way. This will reduce the burden of extracting massive metals and minerals from the earth.

The MEPs also say that public awareness generation will be a key to ensure that offshore wind energy is acceptable to people for achieving energy independence and security of supply. They held that the cost of offshore wind has fallen dramatically in the last two decades. It declined by 48% between 2010 and 2020 and made offshore wind energy one of the most competitively priced sources of energy.

The parliamentarians are of firm opinion that if fossil fuels are not phased out quickly, then meeting renewable energy goals and limiting global warming to less than 1.5°C over the pre-industrial revolution temperature by the end of this century will be impossible.