”Once again, the European Parliament shows its strong commitment to renewables. If we want to reap its full benefits, and maintain EU leadership, Europe needs to develop, without further delay, a specific action plan for offshore wind”, said Christian Kjaer, Chief Executive of EWEA.

‘Offshore production offers a range of opportunities for Europe not only in bringing concrete solutions to current energy challenges but also in terms of industry development, technology exports and employment’, Kjaer added.

As a response to the European Commission’s consultation on the future maritime policy, the Parliament’s resolution acknowledges unambiguously the crucial role offshore wind could play in reaching the 20% renewable target by 2020 agreed last march by the Member States.

Rapporteur MEP Willy Piecyk (PES, DE) stresses that ‘onshore and offshore wind power has very substantial potential for development and could make a major contribution to climate protection’. The report points out, however, that enormous efforts are still needed to fully develop this potential; therefore the Parliament calls on the Commission to draw up an offshore wind energy action plan embodying an efficient European approach to offshore technology, promoting more extensive grid interconnection and indicating the prospects for achieving at least 50 GW by 2020

Before the summer, EWEA submitted its contribution to the debate: for large scale offshore wind to happen, a European framework for the development of offshore wind power is needed. An action plan constitutes the first step of a long term strategy which should result in an improved economic environment for offshore wind sufficient to enable projects to be developed commercially and harness the vast untapped offshore wind potential in Europe.

Note to editors:

• European Parliament resolution of 12 July 2007 on a future maritime policy for the European Union: a European vision for the oceans and seas http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&reference=A6-2007-0235&language=EN&mode=XML#title7
• EWEA position paper on the Maritime Policy: http://www.ewea.org/fileadmin/ewea_documents/documents/publications/EWEA_contribution_to__Maritime_policy_Green_Paper.pdf
• In December EWEA is organising the European offshore wind conference & exhibition gathering the industry for four days; key opportunity to analyse remaining barriers and steps required for the strong development of offshore wind in Europe. More info: http://www.eow2007.info/
• EWEA is the voice of the wind industry - actively promoting the utilisation of wind power in Europe and worldwide. EWEA members from 40 countries include over 300 companies, associations and research institutions. These members include manufacturers covering 98% of the world wind power market, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, developers, electricity providers, contractors, finance and insurance companies and consultants. This combined strength makes EWEA the world’s largest and most powerful wind energy network.
• For more information about the European Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition: http://www.eow2007.info/