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WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson and Vice-Chair Alfredo Parres launched the European Offshore Network Development Plans (ONDPs), aligning with the EU’s grid modernization efforts and supporting the growth of offshore wind. The plans outline offshore transmission equipment needs and costs, offering clarity to developers and investors for each European sea basin through 2030, 2040, and 2050. With offshore renewables set to become a major energy source, the ONDPs advocate for efficient grid expansion, emphasizing regional coordination. They highlight the potential for hybrid offshore wind farms, fostering connectivity and efficient energy flows in Europe’s offshore grid.
“There’s a new urgency around grids in Europe. The ONDPs are a significant step forward. They’ll help people decide how best to build out offshore grids – cost-effective and environmentally friendly. They identify existing grid bottlenecks and how to tackle them. They also inform the evolution of hybrid offshore wind farms, energy islands and other innovative ways of integrating offshore wind power into Europe’s energy system”, said WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson
Here are the next steps for accelerating the expansion of offshore wind:
- The EU should promptly implement Transmission Access Guarantees (TAGs) as part of the ongoing Electricity Market Design discussions, fostering investment confidence in hybrid offshore wind projects.
- Transmission system operators (TSOs) must transparently outline the hybrid connection potential, specifying capacities for radial and hybrid connections.
- Active guidance from the European Commission is essential to encourage Member States to adopt cross-border cost-sharing mechanisms aligned with energy security and climate targets, avoiding underinvestment and delays.
- Member States should reserve grid capacity and make anticipatory investments to support onshore infrastructure integration of electricity from radial and hybrid offshore wind farms, along with offshore renewable hydrogen production.
Giles Dickson further added, “The political support for the growth of offshore wind is extremely strong. Not just in the North Sea, but also in the Baltic, Atlantic, Mediterranean, Black and even the Caspian Sea. But the politics around grid access and grid connections, especially hybrid grid connections, are complicated. It’s essential to resolve the cost-sharing issue as soon as possible. Otherwise the EU risks missing out on investments.”
