Workshop: How to integrate nature into offshore wind and grid infrastructure - a spotlight on offshore auctioning
- https://offshore-coalition.eu/events/workshop-how-to-integrate-nature-into-offshore-wind-and-grid-infrastructure
- Workshop: How to integrate nature into offshore wind and grid infrastructure - a spotlight on offshore auctioning
- 2023-04-26T12:30:00+02:00
- 2023-04-26T15:30:00+02:00
- On 26 April, the Renewables Grid Initiative, WindEurope, and Members of the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature hosted an invitation-only workshop on the design of offshore auctions and the relevance of integrating sustainability and biodiversity measures as part of the selection criteria to award offshore wind projects. This workshop was one of the many OCEaN activities which took place at WindEurope's Annual Event in Copenhagen from 25-27 April.
- When Apr 26, 2023 from 12:30 PM to 03:30 PM (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
- Where Bella Center, Center Boulevard 5, DK-2300, Copenhagen Denmark
- Contact Name Charlotte Mueller
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We are at a crossroads where different crises need to be tackled simultaneously: climate change, biodiversity loss, energy security, and economic recovery. On the one hand, Europe has made ambitious commitments for the expansion of wind energy infrastructure, with offshore wind representing a significant share of the new capacity to be deployed. On the other hand, the European Commission has proposed an EU Nature Restoration Law, which aims to restore 20% of EU’s land and sea ecosystems by 2030.
These twin ambitions can come into conflict, as all infrastructure has an environmental impact. However, there are opportunities for the offshore wind and grid sectors to go beyond emissions reduction and apply measures that can not only minimise environmental risks but contribute to the enhancement of ecosystems. This is particularly important for the offshore environment, where wind infrastructure, and consequently the connecting grid, is expected to increase from 30 GW today to more than 150 GW by 2030.
The Renewables Grid Initiative, WindEurope, and Members of the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature addressed these challenges and opportunities in an invitation-only workshop within WindEurope’s Annual Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. The workshop focused on how to integrate nature into offshore wind and grid infrastructure by bringing together the perspectives of EU Members States, wind developers, transmission system operators, and NGOs. We zoomed into the design of offshore auctions and the relevance of integrating sustainability and biodiversity measures as part of the selection criteria to award offshore wind projects. The workshop took place from 12:30-15:30 CEST on 26 April and kicked off with a welcome lunch, followed by two panel discussions. See pictures of the workshop here.
Speakers
Keynote session: How to integrate nature into offshore wind and grid infrastructure?
- Ingrid Reumert, Senior Vice President of Group Stakeholder Relations, Ørsted
- Gro Waeraas de Saint Martin, Director – Strategy and Development, Réseau de Transport d'Électricité
- Eva Julius-Philipp, Head of Environment and Sustainability Unit, Business Area Wind, Vattenfall
- Bo Øksnebjerg, Secretary General, WWF Denmark
- Moderation: Cristina Simioli, Renewables Grid Initiative
Panel discussion: Sustainability and biodiversity as non-price criteria in offshore wind auctioning: Challenges and Opportunities
- Maike Brinksma, Policy Advisor Offshore Wind, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, North Seas Energy Cooperation (NSEC)
- Ewout van Galen, Head of Programmes, The North Sea Foundation
- Helena Rodrigues, Ocean Policy Officer, WWF European Policy Office
- Martha Lovatt, Consents Team Manage International Offshore Wind, SSE Renewables
- Moderation: Mattia Cecchinato, WindEurope
OCEaN Exhibition Stand
The Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature had a stand in the exhibition hall for all three days of WindEurope's Annual Event. We welcomed visitors and presented the work of the Coalition - check out photos of the stand in our Flickr gallery.
Presentations at Members' Stands
To highlight the collaborations and projects of OCEaN Members working to reconcile offshore energy and nature in European seas, OCEaN organised short presentations throughout the Annual Event at the stands of our Members.
April 25 (11:15-12:00): Ørsted and The Rich North Sea discussed their collaboration in the presentation 'Artificial reefs to support biodiversity at Borssele Offshore Wind Farm' (Location: Stand E-D30).
April 25 (16:15-17:00): Elia, 50Hertz, and Energinet hosted the presentation 'Importance of successful stakeholder engagement and a nature inclusive design in developing the future grid' (Location: Stand E-F70).
April 26 (11:15-12:00): Vattenfall and The Rich North Sea discussed their collaboration in the presentation 'Nature inclusive design in turbine foundations at Hollandse Kust Zuid' (Location: Stand C2-B6).
Conference Sessions
WindEurope's Annual Event included an extensive conference programme where participants could join 50+ sessions from April 25-27. Many OCEaN Members spoke at events throughout the conference - check out the programme to learn more!
Learn more
Browse photos from the workshop
Download OCEaN's event flyer for WindEurope's Annual Event here