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< Northern Ireland regulator proposes to cut NI Water's costs by 11 per cent | RWE Npower chief executive to step down >
Offshore wind could meet 10 per cent of demand
Offshore wind will be able to play a major part in the EU's energy system provided that coordinated action is taken by governments, the wind industry and transmission companies, according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
The industry association's latest research shows that there are over 100 GW of offshore wind projects currently being planned or developed in Europe - enough to meet around ten per cent of the EU's current electricity demand.
The construction of an offshore grid - among other initiatives - will be essential to the realisation of these projects, says the EWEA, which has also presented a 20-year development plant for the offshore sector to governments and EU officials.
The scale of current offshore development plans shows the high level of interest in the industry and also indicates that EWEA's targets of 40 GW of offshore capacity by 2020 and 150 GW by 2030 are realistic, says the organisation, which has 600 members form 60 countries. However, it also highlights the need for coordinated action from the European Commission, governments, regulators and transmission system operators (TSOs).
Key issues include the development of the offshore industry's supply chain, maritime spatial planning, ensuring technological development and construction of an offshore grid. 2010 will be a key year for grid planning, with a report due from the European Commission on plans for a North Sea grid and the publication by network operators of a ten-year plan for grid development.
EWEA's 20 year offshore network development plan provides a comprehensive approach to constructing a transnational offshore power grid. Building on the 11 grids already in place and the 21 being studied by grid operators in the North and Baltic Seas, EWEA proposes eight additional offshore grids by 2020 and six more by 2030.
By 2020, the initial stages of an offshore pan-European grid should be constructed and operating with an agreed plan developed for its expansion to accommodate the 2030 and 2050 ambitions, says EWEA.
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