Offshore wind farms - setting the course required

The European offshore wind sector is facing a Herculean task in order to build the necessary infrastructure to achieve the climate targets that have been set.

This is shown in the results report presented in January 2024 by the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E). The European Network ENTSO-E, based in Brussels, currently consists of 40 transmission system operators, represents 36 countries and is responsible for the secure and coordinated operation of the European electricity grid, the largest interconnected electricity grid in the world.

Grid development plan for the world's largest electricity grid.

Planning instrument

With its Offshore Network Development Plan (ONDP), ENTSO-E is presenting a planning instrument for the first time and its ten-year network development plan shows how offshore and onshore developments are to be integrated in order to bring offshore energy to end consumers in a holistic approach. The ONDP describes the challenges for the countries involved, the infrastructure requirements, the corresponding components and the anticipated - albeit increasingly uncertain - costs.

Expansion plans

The continent's offshore wind sector still needs to grow significantly in order to achieve the EU target of climate neutrality by the middle of the century. In the European Union, the United Kingdom and Norway, almost 500 gigawatts of generation capacity will have to be built, which would make offshore wind energy the third largest source of energy (after oil and gas) by 2050. ENTSO-E estimates that around 400 billion euros will have to be invested for this.

In order to achieve the expansion targets by 2030, around 25.5 gigawatts would have to be installed annually, which would correspond to an almost tenfold increase in the average value of the last 10 years, according to the report. The EU countries account for 15 GW of this, while Norway and the UK together account for 10.5 GW.

Supply bottleneck

Although we have world-class manufacturers in Europe, according to the CEO of ENTSO-E, there is clearly a bottleneck in the supply chains, which are already under pressure due to inflation, high prices, geopolitical problems and increasing global competition. Demand is exceeding the capacity of manufacturers and suppliers.

EU strategy for offshore renewable energy in GW. Source: European Court of Auditors

Target mark

The grid development plan that has now been presented shows the necessary expansion and development of appropriate offshore grids and their interconnection with the onshore interconnected system. It is therefore a necessary prerequisite for the realisation of the European energy transition towards carbon neutrality and is also essential for maintaining a resilient and cost-efficient European energy system. Another necessary prerequisite is the political will of the parties involved and this repeatedly raises doubts.

Source: gCaptain, ENTSO-E