France – In a new report, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have laid out recommendations on how to speed up the deployment of offshore wind.
In response to a communication from the European Commission, MEPs voted on a report that emphasizes the need for faster deployment of offshore renewable energy (ORE), as well as more sustainable management of maritime space and coasts. Members of the European Parliament argue that a world with no emissions calls for a massive expansion of renewable energy resources, and they emphasize the importance of speeding up the process of upgrading and expanding current infrastructure. It is claimed that many member states are falling behind in their transition to renewables.
Permit procedures must be streamlined, and MEPs call on member states to do just that by establishing an open and transparent system and considering imposing time limits on when permits can be issued. A significant economic boost can be expected by supporting clean energy growth, they say. They emphasize the EU’s technological leadership in the ORE sector and its ability to benefit from this growth.
Offshore wind projects
Offshore wind farms, according to MEPs, can benefit marine biodiversity if they are built sustainably and designed properly, but they must coexist with other maritime activities like fishing and shipping. To gain public acceptance and persuade people that renewable energy is essential for achieving energy independence and supply security, they say more work must be done.
There are a lot of metals and minerals that are required for the design, development, and deployment of offshore energy in a circular and renewable manner, MEPs say. For decommissioned wind turbine blades to be accepted in landfills across the EU, they need to be banned by 2025. The report was approved by a vote of 518 to 88, with 85 voting against it.
