Background
Determined to become climate neutral by 2050, the EU is raising its climate targets for 2030, in particular through the publication of its ORE strategy.
Renewable energies will play an important role in achieving this revised ambition, which includes the goal of producing more energy at sea and from the sea.
The EU is already a world leader in the production of renewable energy at sea and in related technologies. Its position can be further strengthened at a lower cost.
The strategy for offshore renewable energies presented by the European Commission will help to unlock this potential and ensure that the EU maintains its leadership role in this sector.
THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ORE STRATEGY:
- set ambitious growth targets for the offshore renewable energy sector
- encourage public and private investment in new infrastructure and research
- facilitate more effective collaboration between different regions
- provide a clear and stable legal framework
Synthesis of this strategy
KEY ACTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN ORE:
- Through the 1st Horizon Europe work program (2021 & 2022), the European Commission proposes to:
- launch a large-scale HVDC network demonstration project in 2022;
- develop new wind, ocean and floating solar technologies;
- improve industrial efficiency throughout the offshore wind value chain, including through digital technologies using data-driven approaches and IoT devices;
- systematically integrate the principle of “circularity by design” in research and innovation.
- The Commission will review the objectives of the SET plan, and will launch an additional SET plan group dedicated to HVDC links;
- The Commission will explore how technological development in offshore energy production and infrastructure can be sustainably integrated into socio-economic ecosystems and the marine environment, for example by researching cumulative effects and social awareness.
- The Commission will work with Member States and regions, including islands, to use available funds in a coordinated manner for ocean energy technologies to achieve a total capacity of 100MW across the board of the EU by 2025, and around 1 GW by 2030.
