Large-scale, interconnected offshore windfarms in the North Sea can form the basis of an ‘energy highway’ along which countries can trade green energy. That is the vision of the North Sea Wind Power Hub Consortium, communicated to energy ministers from many of the world’s leading economies at this year’s Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Denmark. The chairman of the board at Energinet, Lars Barfoed, said the members of the consortium share a vision that is bold, but simple. “We want to connect large-scale offshore wind power to a central hub and create new energy highways and trade corridors between North Sea countries.” European states have been examining the potential to transmit power produced by renewable energy sources from one country to another using so-called ‘interconnectors’ for some time. In order to achieve the Paris agreement’s climate and energy goals efficiently and with limited costs, international cooperation and innovation are necessary, said members of the consortium, speaking on 24 May 2018 at the CEM. By 2040, North Sea offshore wind power capacity could reach 70-150 GW, the consortium said, corresponding to around one fifth of the EU’s power consumption. That is about 7-15 times more wind energy capacity than has been installed so far in the North Sea.
Offshore Wind Journal 25th May 2018 read more »