Ten energy ministers from the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC) have reached an agreement on a new NSEC Action Agenda for the expansion of offshore wind.
This agenda aims, among other objectives, to bolster Europe’s wind energy supply chain. The NSEC countries aspire to construct 76 GW of offshore wind by 2030, 193 GW by 2040, and 260 GW by 2050, positioning the North Seas as Europe's primary power source.
The agreed NSEC Action Agenda outlines essential measures in grid development, market design, financing, auction design, nature protection, and offshore energy security.
The NSEC governments have expressed support for the EU Commission’s Wind Power Package and have committed to actively participating in its implementation. The NSEC Action Agenda binds NSEC countries to undertake actions aligned with the goals of the Wind Power Package, such as enhancing auction design, incorporating non-price criteria (NPC), and reinforcing pre-qualification criteria (PQC). Additionally, the NSEC countries have welcomed the inaugural Offshore Network Development Plan (ONDP), scheduled for release in January 2024, which will serve as a guide for future network investments. They have pledged to share data on upcoming offshore and onshore grid planning, along with the locations for renewable hydrogen electrolysis.
Furthermore, NSEC has pledged to expedite the development of critical cross-border infrastructure projects, specifically offshore wind farms connected to multiple countries, functioning as interconnectors.
Within the North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC), nine European member states, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the European Commission are working together on the development of offshore wind energy and the associated infrastructure in the North Seas.
