European Union to boost renewable energy for a climate neutral Europe

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To help meet the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050, the European Commission today presents the EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy. The Strategy proposes to increase Europe's offshore wind capacity from its current level of 12 GW to at least 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050. The Commission aims to complement this with 40 GW of ocean energy and other emerging technologies such as floating wind and solar by 2050.

This ambitious growth will be based on the vast potential across all of Europe's sea basins and on the global leadership position of EU companies in the sector. It will create new opportunities for industry, generate green jobs across the continent, and strengthen the EU's global leadership in offshore energy technologies. It will also ensure the protection of our environment, biodiversity, and fisheries.

To promote the scale-up of offshore energy capacity, the Commission will encourage cross-border cooperation between the Member States on long term planning and deployment. This will require integrating offshore renewable energy development objectives in the National Maritime Spatial Plans which coastal states are due to submit to the Commission by March 2021. The Commission will also propose a framework under the revised TEN-E Regulation for long-term offshore grid planning, involving regulators and the Member States in each sea basin.

The Commission estimates that investment of nearly EUR800 billion (US$949.5 billion) will be needed between now and 2050 to meet its proposed objectives. To help generate and unleash this investment, the Commission will provide a clear and supportive legal framework, help mobilize all relevant funds to support the sector's development, and ensure a strengthened supply chain. 

Offshore renewable energy is a rapidly growing global market, notably in Asia and the United States, and provides opportunities for EU industry around the world. Through its Green Deal diplomacy, trade policy, and the EU's energy dialogues with partner countries, the Commission will support global uptake of these technologies.

List of the country updates

Country updates

  • October 23, 2020

    AXPO signs PPA contract with CGNEE for 81 MW wind farm in Estinnes

    Axpo Benelux S.A., subsidiary of Axpo for the Belgian market has signed a 6-year agreement for the purchase of the power generated by a wind farm in Estinnes, in the region of Wallonia, Belgium. The...

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  • October 20, 2020

    Borealis and Eneco signs PPA for 487 MW Seamade offshore wind project

    Borealis has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Eneco to source renewable electricity from Mermaid. The agreement entails the purchase and supply of over 1,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh)...

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  • October 20, 2020

    Borealis signs PPA with Eneco for 487 MW Seamade (SeaStar-Mermaid) offshore wind project

    Borealis has signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Eneco to source renewable electricity from Mermaid. The agreement entails the purchase and supply of over 1,000 gigawatt-hours (GWh)...

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  • September 24, 2020

    INEOS signs 10-year PPA deal with ENGIE's 370 MW Norther wind project off the Zeebrugge coast

    INEOS has signed a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement with ENGIE, for the purchase of renewable electricity from 370 MW Norther wind project located 23 kilometers off the coast Zeebrugge, Belgium.R...

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  • June 26, 2020

    Lampiris to offtake power from 309 MW Rentel offshore wind farm off the coast of Ostend

    Belgian electricity and gas supplier Lampiris will offtake all of the electricity generated by Otary Group's 309 MW Rentel offshore wind farm in the Belgian North Sea. If approved, the PPA will...

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