On 29 June 2016, the first Workshop on PROMOTioN took place at the Stanhope Hotel in Brussels. The first public event for the project attracted around 50 participants from various stakeholder groups, such as policy bodies, industry stakeholders and academia & research institutions from multiple European countries and even South Korea. Introducing the PROMOTioN project, Paul Raats from the project coordinator DNV GL invited the attendants to actively participate.
Setting the political scene for offshore HVDC grids, Claude Turmes, Member of European Parliament, clarified that the offshore wind energy is a very important part of the vision to achieve 100% renewable energy in Europe by 2050. He called for binding national RE targets for the year 2030. After the UK’s decision to leave the EU, this goal would help promoting regional cooperation.
Marie Donnelly of the European Commission said there is great potential in the North Seas in terms of energy transition and shaping the future with renewables in Europe. Further cost reduction remains one of the EU’s major objectives, as highlighted by the political declaration signed by nine Member States surrounding the North Seas region on 6 June 2016 in Luxembourg. This aim should be achieved through closer collaboration among governments and industry. Marie Donnelly added that PROMOTioN is a lighthouse project of cooperation between governments and industry and offers great potential for all European leaders to participate.
Andrew Ho, Senior Analyst for Offshore Wind at WindEurope, provided a comprehensive overview of the achievements, including possible scenarios on future developments of the offshore wind sector in the European Seas.
The following panel and stakeholder discussion on energy policy aspects of meshed HVDC offshore grids started with presentations by Alan Croes, TenneT TSO B.V., and Dr. Antje Orths, ENTSO-E Covenor of the Regional Group North Seas (Energienet.dk). Together with Jan Hensmans, Chairman NSCOGI and Senior Policy Advisor Direction Energy for the Belgian Government, the panel entered an intensive dialogue and answered questions from the audience. There was widespread consensus on the need for progress towards regional cooperation to help make meshed HVDC offshore grids a reality in the 2020s and beyond.
The afternoon panel on technological aspects provided an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss questions concerning feasibility and availability of suitable technologies for meshed HVDC offshore grids with representatives of the following technology providers: ABB AB, Siemens AG, Prysmian Powerlink, Mitsubishi Electric Europe and GE Grid Solutions . Substantial and valuable contributions from the audience rounded up the afternoon session on technology options.
Inspiring discussions, critical and fruitful remarks and interesting presentations and speeches from various stakeholders shaped this successful and promising Kick-Off event of the PROMOTioN project. The consortium looks forward to the next opportunities to receive valuable inputs from the stakeholder community across Europe.