BalticWind.EU informed, that MEPs set out recommendations for speeding up the deployment of offshore wind, in a report adopted on Tuesday. The report voted in the Industry, Research and Energy committee (ITRE) in response to a European Commission communication stresses that meeting the 2030 and 2050 targets require speeding up the deployment of offshore wind energy. It will be put to vote in the full House on the 17th of January, 2022. We ask a few questions to MEP Morten Petersen (Renew, DK) rapporteur in ITRE.
Paweł Wróbel: What are the main achievements of your report adopted by the ITRE?
Morten Petersen: I think the main achievement lies in getting a broad political majority behind a very, very ambitious report. It takes on the urgency needed to combat climate change, and includes faster deployment of offshore wind parks and introduces time limits on permits. Anyone within the wind industry knows the sensitivity of these issues, yet they are now included in the report that has wide backing in the European Parliament.
Which major EU regulatory obstacles to foster the development of offshore wind energy need to be removed first?
Now it’s important to streamline all regulations in the Fit for 55 package, so we don’t end up in situations where different regulations are in conflict with each other. Permits, for example, are also a subject in the Renewable Energy Directive, and we wouldn’t another directive to stand in the way of faster deployment of offshore wind
What is your message as a rapporteur to offshore wind stakeholders in the Baltic Sea region?
I am asking you to use your voices to have the goals and ambitions in the ‘EU strategy on offshore renewable energy’ implemented at the national level. The report is paving the way, but bringing our climate targets across the goal line is very much in your hands. I also want to thank offshore wind stakeholders for their input along the way. It has been a very valuable input to the work with the report.
