Offshore wind energy represents a crucial opportunity for the Black Sea region to improve its energy security, accelerate the decarbonisation of the region’s economy, and open new opportunities for the economic development of coastal communities. Yet, this requires the urgent overcoming of the governance deficits preventing the faster deployment of the offshore wind energy potential.
Abundant wind energy resources represent a huge opportunity for sustainable economic development, large foreign direct investment flows and the creation of a high-skilled labour force. By studying and replicating well-established governance regimes, the countries in the region can accelerate their own offshore energy development while avoiding the pitfalls and maximising the positive outcomes.
These are some of the main conclusions of the conference Unlocking the Potential of Offshore Wind in Central and Eastern Europe, held on 21 November in Sofia. During the event, CSD presented its latest analysis on adopting a Strategic Legal Framework for Offshore Wind in Bulgaria.
CSD experts were joined by Delyan Dobrev, Chairman of the Energy Committee of the 50th National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Ana Miljanovic Rusan, Manager, Offshore Energy and Nature Program, Renewables Grid Initative, Marta Sturzanu, Expert, Romanian Wind Association, Murat Durak, President, Turkish Offshore Wind Association, and Bernd Ockels, Technical Director for Renewable Resources, ERM.
During the event, Delyan Dobev highlighted the importance of investing in offshore projects for security long-term sustainable economic development and more available capacity for covering the potential power market shortfalls in periods of peak demand. Marta Sturzanu discussed Romania's experience with passing a dedicated regulatory framework for offshore wind, emphasising that the government is developing a roadmap with specific targets and timeline for project development. She noted that the projects should be evaluated on both cost and non-economic criteria, such as the impact on the critical energy infrastructure, cybersecurity and the synergies with other low-carbon technologies. Ana Miljanovic Rusan stressed the need for Bulgaria and Romania to learn from mature markets about managing potential environmental risks linked to the projects. Murat Durak suggested that the offshore wind energy sector in the Black Sea should have a regional development pathway that includes the construction of shared port and transmission infrastructure, as well as supply chains. Bernd Okkels stressed the importance of active awareness raising campaigns by national and local authorities that will address the potential resistance of local communities, which has hindered the completion of many projects in Europe. The competition to attract offshore investors should be seen as a beauty contest, with each country presenting the clearest and most consistent governance framework for the sector.
The panellists agreed that the development of the sector requires the creation of a transparent and coherent regulatory framework to encourage investors to develop specific projects, as well as to overcome technical obstacles related to the development of the electricity grid and port infrastructure. A targeted information campaign is also needed to counter the widespread myths about the negative impact of offshore wind on nature and biodiversity, which undermine public continuity towards the development of the sector.
