European Commission (EC) has appointed Ecofys and RPS to prepare a Baseline Environmental Assessment for meshed grid in the Irish and North Seas.
The research focuses on Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, with the aim to compile an environmental baseline including maps, constraints, risks, impacts, ways of mitigation and alternatives.
The results may be used to inform any future plans for renewable energy generation, energy storage, power cables and associated equipment in the North and Irish Seas, according to Ecofys.
The development of an offshore energy system in the North and Irish Seas represents a significant opportunity towards meeting the EU’s energy, environmental, growth and employment objectives.
The region has a vast renewable energy potential that could provide a significant share of Europe’s power supply by 2030.
In addition, this regional energy system could also contribute to the further integration of the electricity market in Northwest Europe which would be an important step towards a single European electricity market and improved energy security within the EU, Ecofys stated.
An important part of the study is the stakeholder involvement of the different Member States and environmental parties who have been invited to provide feedback to the different grid scenarios for 2030 and the scoping report.
Aside from organising stakeholder meetings, Ecofys also developed the project website BEAGINS to collect feedback and also share documents and maps.