Unlocking the CEE Offshore Wind Potential

Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) organised a workshop as part of European Climate Initiative (EUKI) Networking Conference on May 14, 2024 in Berlin, Germany.
Embracing offshore wind offers a compelling alternative to fossil fuels, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where economies are still highly carbon-intensive and the renewable energy potential is immense. The workshop delved into the multifaceted challenges and opportunities for the development of offshore wind energy in the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Sea, focusing on the need for sound regulatory set-up, environmental sustainability, and enabling infrastructure.
Several governance deficits need to be overcome to make these projects happen, including a lack of strategic vision, an unclear regulatory framework, technical barriers related to grid and port infrastructure development, and pervasive myths about the impact of offshore wind on nature and biodiversity that undermine societal continuity.
CSD experts were joined by Stanislav Anastassov, Chairman, Committee for Environment, Bulgarian National Assembly, Pawel Czyzak, Regional Lead – CEE, EMBER, Cristina Simoli, Director, Offshore Energy and Nature, Renewable Grids Initiative, Ben Sass, Head of Project Development Offshore, PNE AG, and Lukasz Dabrowski, Marshal’s Office, Pomeranian Offshore Platform. Speakers stressed the need for addressing different kinds of risk, the value of partnerships, and the potential of the sector to employ highly skilled workforce.