Policies on multi-source offshore energy parks start taking shape in Europe

The European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) is preparing detailed recommendations on the integration of non-price criteria in offshore renewable energy tenders. The recommendations, expected to be published in March 2025, will also cover multi-source offshore energy parks, where wave and/or floating solar parks are integrated into offshore wind farms.

At a summit held by the Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC), POM West-Vlaanderen, and the EU-SCORES project at the beginning of July in Belgium, representatives from four EC Directorates-General provided insights on multi-source offshore energy parks and broader policy developments.

DG ENER highlighted that member states should include multi-use areas in their national marine spatial plans (MSPs), according to DMEC and the EU-SCORES partners.

MSPs and environmental protection were among the key points for EU representatives. For the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), this was the optimization of marine space through MSPs and co-existence, while the Directorate-General for Environment (DG ENV) discussed biodiversity protection through the recently adopted Nature Restoration Law.

The Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), according to which a significant share of future energy will come from sources that are not yet on the market today, presented an evaluation framework for ocean energy technology. DG RTD also affirmed that supporting funding schemes, such as HORIZON Europe and the Innovation Fund are available to support innovation in energy technologies.

At the summit, representatives from three EU countries also shared their national strategies and ambitions.

In Ireland, the Future Policy Framework for Offshore Renewable Energy also refers to multi-use offshore energy areas as an opportunity for the country to use its maritime space more efficiently and enhance energy security.

The Netherlands provided insights into several approaches the country is taking to accelerate the multi-use of marine space, including the so-called Area Passports which dedicate areas for other uses within offshore wind farms and the use of non-price criteria in offshore wind tenders to accelerate offshore solar and green hydrogen.

Dutch representatives also presented the national targets for offshore wind (21 GW by 2030 and 70 GW by 2050) and offshore solar (research goal of 3 GW tendered by 2031).

The summit also saw an introduction of the pilot- and test zones for offshore renewable energy in Portugal, whose representatives said that in the future, areas for commercial technologies (TRL 9 required) will also be declared. Portugal has set a 2030 capacity target for wave energy of 200 MW and is preparing its first offshore wind tender, with an aim to procure 10 GW of capacity through multiple rounds by 2030.