Baltic Sea Declaration signed in Tallinn
On the fringe of the EUFORES 17th Inter-Parliamentary Meeting on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Tallinn, WindEurope and the national wind energy associations of the Baltic Sea states have signed the Baltic Sea Declaration. For Germany the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation has signed the Declaration.
The Baltic Sea Declaration seeks to accelerate the development of offshore wind energy (OWE) and to foster international cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. The declaration acknowledges the potential of OWE for the cost-efficient achievement of the objectives of the EU Energy Union, to increase energy supply security and to further diversify the energy portfolio in the Baltic Sea region. However, to utilise the full potential of offshore wind energy and to develop a well-functioning integrated energy market, regional cooperation in maritime spatial planning, grid development, capacity planning and support schemes is needed.
WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson and Martin Kruus, Chairman of the Board of the Estonian Wind Power Association, handed over the Baltic Sea Declaration to the Permanent Deputy Secretary General for Energy of the Government of Estonia, Mr. Ando Leppiman. The Estonian government currently holds the EU Presidency and is urged to build the political momentum to develop the offshore wind market in the Baltic Sea further.
Political support comes also from Claude Turmes, the President of EUFORES and a member of the European Parliament, who signed a support letter of the Baltic Sea Declaration hoping that it will boost the development of offshore wind power in the Baltic Sea region.
As the declaration sees strong synergies between the development of offshore wind power and grids, the initiative of the wind energy associations around the Baltic Sea is also support by the whole Baltic InteGrid project consortium, which also includes the German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation. On behalf of all project partners Baltic InteGrid lead partner IKEM has signed its letter of support. The support letter can be downloaded here.